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Source: racenet.com.au
Emerging star Tron Bolt rocketed into outright Group 1 JJ Atkins favouritism with an arrogant performance at Rosehill Gardens as key rivals faltered interstate on Saturday.
With the bulk of the JJ Atkins contenders contesting the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm, the Chris Waller-trained colt did the business away from the limelight with a statement performance on home turf.
Tron Bolt lapped up the heavy conditions to score a comfortable victory in the Bookmakers Recognition Handicap (1300m).
It has thrust Waller into the box seat to snare his fourth JJ Atkins Stakes win in a fortnight’s time.
He won his last JJ Atkins alongside long-time supporters Hermitage when The Autumn Sun scored a memorable success in 2018 with Tron Bolt raced by the same connections.
Tron Bolt had his price cut from $8 into $4.50 equal favouritism for the JJ Atkins alongside Blind Raise after his win but was a clear $3.50 top pick following the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes when the former top pick could only manage ninth.
“It was fantastic,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
“He was just too good there. He managed to get through the ground well and just kept building all the way to the line.
“His best work was through the line so onwards and upwards and obviously the JJ Atkins Stakes looms.”
Waller entrusted his star apprentice Siena Grima to do the steering on his Group 1 prospect and the young gun continued in the same form that saw her pilot a treble last Saturday at Rosehill Randwick.
Grima was happy to ride patiently and didn’t have a runner behind her as they turned for home.
Tron Bolt ($2.80) showed his class when he hit top gear to race away for a 1-¾ length victory from Cormier($2.80) with the same margin back to Heatstroke ($26) in third.
“The main thing was just get him to relax early,” Grima said.
“It is a great privilege to ride these colts. When I asked him at the top of the straight just to build, I felt him really switch on.
“I thought we’ve got them.”
Tron Bolt’s win was his second in just three starts after the son of Toronado broke through for a maiden win at Randwick Kensington earlier this month.
The lightly-raced talent is following a similar path to the one Waller has used successfully in the past with his emerging two-year-olds.
The champion conditioner has used a Sydney lead-up to produce two of his three JJ Atkins winners.
The Autumn Sun scored in a 1400m test at Royal Randwick two weeks out from his JJ Atkins triumph in 2018 while Press Statement was a victor over 1350m at Rosehill a week before his Group 1 victory three years earlier.
Duckworth felt Tron Bolt, which was resold for a sale topping $900,000 in the Inglis Ready 2 Run, would be suited by a step up in trip next start.
“I think a mile won’t be an issue at all,” Duckworth said.
“We were just talking to Darren (Beadman), it’s amazing for a breeze up horse that often get a reputation of being a bit fired up, obviously because they are using that as their sales pitch through the yearling market.
“He is beautifully relaxed and hasn’t put a foot wrong from the moment he arrived in the stable in his first preparation right the way through today so he is a smart colt and another nice one for Hermitage.”