Peter & Paul Snowden added to their impressive Group 1 tally this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with their gun filly Sheeza Belter beating home the boys again in an impressive J.J. Atkins 2022 result at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Peter Snowden celebrated success in the 2022 J.J. Atkins. Photo: Taron Clarke.

The stable celebrated their third Group 1 of the carnival and atoned for the unplaced performance by Doomben Cup winner Huetor the start prior in the Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22, which was won in an upset by Numerian for Annabel Neasham.

The first of two elite levels on the Stradbroke Handicap Day card, a gun field of in-form two-year-olds faced off in the Group 1 $1 million J.J. Atkins (1600m).

It was the Snowden’s Perth expat, Gold Standard chestnut Sheeza Belter, who proved too strong on Grand Final day.

“It’s certainly been pretty good,” co-trainer Peter Snowden told Sky Thoroughbred Central speaking of the stable’s recent success.

“All the hard work culminates into days like today so it’s very special.”

The filly was given a perfectly timed ride by this year’s Queensland Oaks winning hoop from last weekend William Pike, also hailing from WA, who continued his successful association with the up-and-comer.

She was good winning the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last start, and today franked that form completing the double for the first time since Sizzling (2012).

“She’s always been tough and resilient at home, she cops the work. Everything about her suggested she is going to get to that really good level and here we are today,” Snowden said of the J.J. Atkins winning filly. 

“We’ll get her out and give her a break on Monday but she’s got a really good spring ahead of her now.”

The first J.J. Atkins winning filly since Linky Dink (2009), Sheeza Belter ($4.20) came onto the scene on the home straight charging home down the outside to hit the lead 250m out.

She went on to cross first ahead of a wall of horses, defeating the brave Chris Waller-trained Political Debate ($5.50) who was very good from the back, making up ground to run second on the quick back-up from his Listed The Phoenix victory here last weekend.

“Disappointing to run second. He went unbelievable, he’s a beautiful horse who will be a really good horse in the spring and autumn,” beaten hoop James McDonald said of Political Debate.

“He just lost it at the start. He jumped well but just didn’t muster for the first 50 metres and the last place we wanted to be was back where we were.

“He sliced through beautifully, we got a lovely run through and he attacked the line really well the last furlong, furlong and a half. It was a brilliant run.”

In a photo for third to round out the J.J. Atkins trifecta was the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained last-start Flemington winner Brosnan ($26) at a big price, while Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($3.90) was far from disgraced running fourth as the beaten favourite.

“We’re really happy with him again, but he probably just lacked that bit of seasoning,” Hugh Bowman said of Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

“When I needed him to bullock his way through he just wasn’t ready to do it but there’s no doubt he’s a top-line horse of the future and we’re really proud of him.”

2022 J.J. Atkins Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.