STEVE Turnbull’s Atomic Red leads a three-horse attack for the trainer from The Lagoon in this Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Chariots of Fire (1,609 metres) at Menangle.
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The former Gold Chalice champion goes out from gate eight against a field of the continent’s elite sprinters, joined by stablemates Conviction and Joes Star Of Mia.
Turnbull said Atomic Red, to be driven by daughter Amanda, will be one to watch after a career-best mile rate in his Group 3 Hondo Grattan Stakes win last month.
“It’s a great feeling. To get to one horse into these sorts of races is a big thrill but to have three in it is amazing,” he said.
“He’s probably the toughest of the three I’ve got. He should be right up there. His first up run was amazing.
“We were hoping he’d go alright but he just blew us away with that run.”
The Chariots of Fire is undoubtedly a big step up in class from the Hondo Grattan Stakes but if Atomic Red gets close to his performance from that race then the Rocknroll Hanover horse could claim his biggest career win.
Atomic Red kept digging hard down the Menangle straight during the Hondo Grattan Stakes’ conclusion, holding on for a short half head win and a lightning quick mile rate of 1:50.3.
It was his first run in seven months.
There’s plenty of talent standing between him and a breakthrough Group 1 crown.
Other Bathurst talent in the race includes Ashlee Grives driving Mark Jones’ horse Whittaker, as well as Chris and Anthony Frisby’s gelding Our Uncle Sam.
Shane and Lauren Tritton’s runner Gotta Go Ya Hu – who came within inches of taking down Atomic Red in the Hondo Grattan Stakes – returns for Saturday’s Group 1 classic.
However, the runner who will command the most attention on the night will be Margaret Lee’s Jilliby Kung Fu.
The Four Starzzz Shark horse picked up an upset Group 1 win last start and on Saturday makes a trip outside of Victoria for the first time in pursuit of another top-level triumph.
He’s missed the placings just five times in his 27 starts.
Steve Turnbull has the drive on Joes Star Of Mia while son Mitch drives Conviction.
“Atomic will definitely go forward if he can. It would be nice if he can get over to the death seat cheaply. He likes to be up there on the speed,” Turnbull said.
“It doesn’t look like that last run has had any ill effect on him either.
“He missed his last start he was going to have so he could turn up fulled rested for this.
“I think there’s a good group of four or five horses who can win this. Ashlee’s horse and the Frisby’s horse are going good and there’s that horse from Melbourne [Jilliby Kung Fu] who looks strong but I don’t know too much about.
“I’m confident my other two runners can be right in it too and give this a good go.”
The $200,000 Chariots of Fire gets started from 9.44pm this Saturday.