Sydney’s Chris Waller was back in the money in Brisbane with his 2017 JJ Atkins-bound colt Tangled beating home the locals in the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben Racecourse.

Dual JJ Atkins winning trainer Chris Waller has a livewire shot for the 2017 edition of the Group 1 with Champagne Classic winner Tangled. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.

Last seen breaking his maiden status at career start number three over 1350m at Wyong, Snitzel two-year-old Tangled paid $8.50 to frank the NSW form in this year’s $175,000 Group 2 Moet Champagne Classic (1200m).

A bit of pre-race drama saw Chris Munce’s Group 3 winner Ours To Keep got through the front of the barriers and run a furlong before Damian Browne pulled him up.

Subsequently passing a vet check, the young local galloper lined-up for take two and was one of the best out of the barriers as the returning Tony Gollan-trained filly She’s Our Star took up the lead on the fence early.

Ours To Keep, coming off a first-up fourth in the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m), eventually moved up to take up front running on the filly’s outside while the favourite Snitzkraft tracked in third with the first three having a notable gap on the rest of the field.

That same line of three were together approaching the turn for home, Ours To Keep holding a narrowing lead on the straight as She’s Our Star started to struggle against the fitter two-year-olds in the mix.

Quickly on the scene coming with an excellent late charging run down the outside was the Kerrin McEvoy-ridden Tangled, the interstate raider running over the top of them to take out the Group 2.

Also making up the ground to swamp the early front-runners and finish in the money behind Tangled were the Gary Moore-trained All Too Huiying ridden by Brenton Avdulla and Stuart Kendrick’s $26 roughie Italia Bella rounding out the trifecta in third after debuting with a fifth in the Dalrello Stakes a fortnight back.

The next traditional lead-up to the $600,000 Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m), held at Eagle Farm on June 10, is the $250,000 Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on May 27.

Waller has prepared two previous JJ Atkins winners with Pressday (2010) and Press Statement (2015) and Tangled is sure to firm in all-in JJ Atkins odds to win this year’s edition after the good Brisbane debut.

To check out the updated futures JJ Atkins 2017 betting markets on the Champagne Classic winner Tangled head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2017 Champagne Classic Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 4 – 13/05/2017