Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
In form gelding Atmospheric (El Roca) was in rarefied air at Otaki on Friday when he broke through for a deserved maiden stakes victory in the Listed Jennian Homes ANZAC Mile (1600m).
The four-year-old son of El Roca has been knocking on the door for some time, winning three of his previous 15 starts, and ran fourth in last year’s Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m), and he earned another crack at black-type when winning over 1500m at Ellerslie three weeks ago.
From his ace barrier, he was only fair away on Friday, but jockey George Rooke stoked him up to regain his deficit to sit in the trail behind local hope Riverplate.
The speed was on throughout and Atmospheric looked a major danger when turning for home, with Rooke steering him into a gap outside the leader and he quickly hit the front.
Favourite punters began to form an orderly queue at the tote window, but Freddie Time had other ideas and began to close late, however, his momentum was interrupted when he had to be balanced up and Atmospheric maintained his advantage to win by 1-3/4 lengths over the Southland gelding.
Trainer Kurtis Pertab was pleased with the performance of his stable newcomer, and he was rapt he was able to secure a black-type result.
“He was away a bit slow, but it was a good ride, he was a lot handier than he tends to race,” Pertab said. “He is a horse that has always had a lot of ability and he rightfully gets his black-type success.”
Pertab has yet to lock in any further plans for Atmospheric and he said he will wait to see how he comes through the race before making any decisions.
“He can get through the ground, but he doesn’t like really wet ground, so I am not sure what we do with him after this, but we will just get him home and make a plan depending on how he pulls up,” Pertab said. “He has done the job anyway.”
Atmospheric’s win completed a stable double at the meeting, with Atavus carrying owner-breeder Gerry Harvey’s silks to victory in the Otaki Tyre Repairs Maiden (1600m) earlier on the card.
“It was a good win by Atavus,” Pertab said. “It was a really good ride by George (Rooke), he is riding super at the moment. He is a horse that might be able to put a couple more together. He got through the ground and he is going to be a lovely stayer.”
Friday’s double continued a lucrative week for Pertab who also recorded a winning double at Arawa Park on Wednesday courtesy of Elusive Faith and Getaway, and he is hoping his winning run continues into a busy holiday weekend.
“It has been great week and it makes it all worthwhile,” he said. “We have got a big day tomorrow (at Te Rapa), so we will prepare for that now.”
Pertab will line-up a dozen runners at Te Rapa’s ANZAC Day meeting, including Arrowfield Stud filly Cheerio and Circus Dancer in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
“The drying track will be a big benefit to Cheerio,” Pertab said. “She did a light piece of work yesterday (Thursday) and Troy Harris was very happy with her. She is right on song.
“Circus Dancer had an exhibition gallop at Rotorua on Wednesday and that will bring her on nicely. I am happy with where she is at. She is a class horse and rightfully takes her place.”
Stablemates Quello Dolce and Landlock are on the ballot for the Cambridge Breeders’, and if they fail to gain a start they will head to Ellerslie on Monday to contest the ANZAC Day 3YO (1200m).
“Landlock loves Ellerslie, he has got a very good record there,” Pertab said. “It is a shame Quello Dolce is probably not going to make the field tomorrow, she is right up to them. She is going really well and she will run super on Monday.”
