Market drifter Capital Gain came with a roaring late run in the JJ Atkins 2017 over the Doomben mile on Saturday to score a big upset in the classic without the odds-on favourite in sight.

Capital Gain stormed home late to win the 2017 JJ Atkins at Doomben this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

All the money in this year’s $600,000 Group 1 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) was on the Kiwi filly Melody Belle after her barnstorming five length win leading-up in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

It was another graduate out of that race from May 27 at Eagle Farm, the local Paul Butterworth-trained Capital Gain, who was the improver stepping up in distance on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

Highly-spruiked Ad Valorem gelding Capital Gain had been racing honestly without posting a win during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, including his fast-finishing fifth to Melody Belle in the Sires’ Produce.

He was the one in that race making up ground when the filly flew home, but was left alone by the punters in JJ Atkins betting starting at nearly $20 after easing in markets on the rematch.

Melody Belle, who connections had to fork out a late entry fee after missing the cut-off to have the daughter of Commands line-up in the JJ Atkins field, was away sweetly from the gates in Doomben Race 6.

She settled just off the pace behind the Chris Waller-trained duo of Sambro and Tangled who were right up front leading.

Peter & Paul Snowden’s BRC Sires’ runner-up Taking Aim meanwhile was racing midfield, before hoop Hugh Bowman moved forward on the Choisir colt to make it a line of five two-year-olds into the home turn.

With 300m to go Sambro was still leading, but quickly on the scene was the Jim Byrne-ridden Capital Gain who connections recently knocked back a $700,000 offer to sell.

Capital Gain flew late down the outside reeling in his rivals and posting a dominant Group 1 win over the Ciaron Maher-trained filly Aloisia who also caught the eye in just her fourth career start and first in stakes grade.

Rounding out the lucrative JJ Atkins trifecta in third was then Taking Aim, while Melody Belle simply didn’t respond and failed to finish anywhere of note in a disappointing result for the punters and connections.

“Paul, he’s done a great job with this horse, telling the owners ‘don’t sell’”,” veteran Queensland jockey Byrne said post-win.

“I’m so grateful to him for allowing me to ride the horse.”

A Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival campaign later in the year is likely to follow for the progressive Capital Gain with an eye on the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in early October.

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2017 JJ Atkins Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 6 – 10/06/2017