Clear punters’ pick Atlantis Dream has saluted in impressive style at Morphettville this afternoon when hunting down race favourite Marianne late to win the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m).
Jockey Nick Hall settled Atlantis Dream slightly better than mid-field following a fine barrier jump and sat off the pace set by three-year-old Japhils and Clear Direction who charged from the gates.
Receiving an ideal run in transit with cover, the Elusive City mare did find the final straight slightly wide but proved she was more than capable of a successful transition to black type racing in locking in a fierce sprint battle with Let’s Make Adeal and hitting the line half a length ahead; Marianne maintaining a strong enough sprint for third.
Trainer Darren Weir was on hand for Atlantis Dream’s success in the 2015 Queen Of The South Stakes and revealed the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2000m) in a fortnight may figure as the next point of call for the six-year-old.
“She’s done a super job. She had a bit of an unfortunate start with injury and had a wind operation,” Weir said.
“They’re not easy to win but she got the right run, got clear running late and attacked the line really well.
“Her preparation has been targeted around this race and then maybe in a fortnight the 2000m Listed race.
“She’s one of the horses that’s down at the beach obviously with the injury in the early days but Mark O’Donnell and his staff have done a terrific job with this mare.”
In taking out the 2015 Queen Of The South Stakes, Atlantis Dream has now posted and impressive six wins and five minors through a total of 14 competitive starts.
Returning for sixth in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) on March 21st, Atlantis Dream finished a close second in the Ross Stevenson Trophy (1600m) in her only other start prior to this
afternoon’s Queen Of The South success.
2015 Queen Of The South Stakes Results
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | ATLANTIS DREAM (NZ) | Darren Weir | Nicholas Hall | – | 11 | 55kg | $5.50 |
2 | 5 | LET’S MAKE ADEAL | Nigel Blackiston | Dwayne Dunn | 0.2L | 9 | 55kg | $12 |
3 | 3 | MARIANNE (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | Hugh Bowman | 0.5L | 6 | 56kg | $3.30F |
4 | 9 | CLEAR DIRECTION (NZ) | Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | Ms Holly McKechnie | 1L | 10 | 55kg | $31 |
5 | 13 | JAPHILS | John Sadler | Dean Yendall | 1.5L | 12 | 53.5kg | $5.50 |
5 | 1 | GIRL IN FLIGHT | Robbie Griffiths | Matthew Allen | 1.5L | 13 | 57kg | $9 |
7 | 4 | BIPPO NO BUNGUS | Neville Parnham | Chris Parnham | 2L | 3 | 56kg | $8.50 |
8 | 2 | LADY CUMQUAT | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 2.4L | 5 | 57kg | $17 |
9 | 12 | REBELLE | Mick Huxtable | Paul Gatt | 2.7L | 7 | 55kg | $81 |
10 | 11 | ANFITRIONA | Peter G Moody | Blake Shinn | 3.1L | 4 | 55kg | $41 |
10 | 10 | CAVALOCE | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Clare Lindop | 3.1L | 8 | 55kg | $41 |
12 | 7 | HELD HOSTAGE | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 3.6L | 1 | 55kg | $16 |
13 | 8 | AVA’S DELIGHT | Darren Weir | Ben Melham | 4.3L | 2 | 55kg | $11 |