Trainer Mick Price has confirmed that talented colt Pressing will run in the 2014 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 7, despite finishing a disappointing ninth in the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Pressing will wear blinkers when he makes his Group 1 debut in the 2014 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm next weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Pressing was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 2 event, after scoring impressive wins in the Mindy Green Plate (1200m) at Caulfield on April 12 and the Listed Sky High Mt Dandenong Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on May 3, but was settled towards the tail of the field in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes and made up little ground late to finish ninth.
Price told TVN that his original thought was to send Pressing for a stint in the spelling paddock before bringing the son of Sebring back for a 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but said that jockey Damien Oliver had convinced him to give the colt a maiden opportunity at Group 1 level with blinkers on in the J.J. Atkins.
“Ollie said to press on, go to the mile and the horse was screaming out for blinkers,” Price said.
“He said it was very leader-dominated type of race and that he was a bit green that way of going.
“He felt that horse’s last bit was good enough to go to the mile race and with blinkers he’ll be able to take up a position.
“We’re going forward with dented confidence.
“My stable foreman is telling me the horse hasn’t had enough and Ollie is telling me it wasn’t the run of a horse that’s had enough.”
Pressing is currently available at 2014 J.J. Atkins odds of $13; with Brazen Beau remaining a clear favourite despite being upset by Time For War in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes.
Brazen Beau started the race as a short-priced favourite, after winning the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 10, and made up plenty of ground in the final stages of the race, but was unable to run down Time For War in the final stages of the race.
Time For War remains on the fourth line of J.J. Atkins betting markets at odds of $9, but trainer Gerald Ryan believes that the mile could be a stretch for son of Snitzel and he could save the colt for a crack at the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
