Two year old Romantic Touch stamped himself as a top Spring three year old after an all the way win in the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm today.

Nash Rawiller and Romantic Touch returning after winning the J J Atkins at Eagle. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Winning trainer Gai Waterhouse wasn’t frightened to take on Group 1 company with Romantic Touch after taking out a midweek Canterbury two year old Handicap by seven and a half lengths and the win vindicated her judgement.

Racing manager for the Waterhouse stable Bruce Slade said that the stable had always had a high opinion of the son of Northern Meteor and he has really developed into a very nice racehorse since being gelded.

“She has always held the horse in very high regard and even last preparation he did great job,” Slade said.

“He’s been gelded  and he’s just come back a different horse, mentally more than anything and Gai’s just worked her magic on him and he’s just got better with every track gallop, with every race and you saw today.”

Nash Rawiller had no hesitation in taking the favourite straight the front and was untroubled in the lead and the Romantic Touch  found plenty of fight in the straight to hold off second fancy Zoustar who had a nice run on the fence behind the pace.

Third placegetter Paximadia also raced on the pace and tried hard right to the finish.

“We did a bit of early work to establish the lead. I didn’t want anyone driving him mad and for that reason we got a pretty soft lead. I waited as long as I could before I went for him and he give a really good turn of speed.”

Romantic Touch was Rawiller’s second win for the day after taking out the previous race, the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) on the Chris Waller trained Red Tracer.