J J Atkins favourite Souchez headlines the nominations for the Group 2 $250,000 Mitavite BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
The John O’Shea trained Souchez, above, is among the nominations for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
The John O’Shea trained Souchez is one of seventeen two year olds entered for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and also heads the market order at $3.60 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Souchez has won two of his four race starts and ran a tidy race last start when third behind Winning Rupert and Attention in the Group 2 $175,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 14.
The Lonhro colt who carries the Godolphin royal blue colours was up amongst the best two year olds during the Sydney Autumn Carnival with a third to Good Standing in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 27 followed by a win in the Group 2 $175,000 Cafe Culture + Insitu Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill a fortnight later.
Attention is one of two youngsters co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have nominated for the Sires’ Produce Stakes with last Saturday’s Hampden Stakes runner up Jericho also among the entries.
Attention scored an upset win during the Sydney Autumn Carnival when he arrived at the good odds of $20 in the Group 3 $150,000 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill on March 26 and nearly repeated that as a $16 chance when a close second to the well backed Winning Rupert in the Champagne Classic.
Sunshine Coast trainer John Zielke has nominated Royal Tithe who is a winner of his last two starts, including his latest over Oink in the Group 3 $125,000 Jaguar XJ Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.
Oink is also among the nominations and trainer Kelly Schweida is pleased he decided against running the Sebring gelding from a wide barrier at Doomben last Saturday in the Listed $100,000 McGrath Estate Agents Hampden Stakes (1200m) to save him for the Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“As it turned out I think it was the right move. The winner Archives came from barrier one, the runner-up Jericho had no luck from barrier 10 and the third horse had barrier four,” Schweida told AAP.
“In other words the inside barriers were an advantage on the day. My horse is still immature and I think he would have had problems from that start.”
“He showed in the Listed Ken Russell that he is up to stakes company.”
Nominations for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes: Attention, Barbass, Cadogan, Candika, Crack Me Up, Dreams Aplenty, Earth, Endless Days, Jericho, Meet And Greet, Nikitas, Oink, Royal Tithe, Sacred Elixir, Souchex, Sylpheed, Zendaye.
