Broadsiding dominant in curtain-raiser to rich G1 JJ Atkins

Handsome Godolphin two-year-old Broadsiding will target his second G1 triumph of the season after storming home from nearly last on the home turn to win the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1,400m at Eagle Farm on Saturday, 1 June.

In notching his hat-trick – after winning the Listed Fernhill Mile and G1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick on wet tracks in April – Broadsiding confirmed his favouritism for the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1,600m) in a fortnight and also pressed his claims for Australian Two-Year-Old of the Year honours.

By boom Darley first-season sire Too Darn Hot, Broadsiding (Jamie Kah) beat Zouna by a length with Too Darn Hot filly Superalloy a long neck away in third place.

The James Cummings-trained colt took his record to three wins and two placings from just six starts for prize money and bonus earnings of A$1,344,675.

The win excited Cummings, who admitted being a little concerned when Broadsiding was so far back on the rain-affected track with only 400m to gallop.

“Turning for home there was a lot going on and I guess the horse’s experience shone through, but Jamie Kah also kept a very calm demeanour about herself,” Cummings said.

“Broadsiding has a devastating turn of foot, doesn’t he?”

“He’s a class animal and an outstanding effort to win considering the difficulties he had to overcome.”

Kah, who took the ride on the juvenile after James McDonald left Australia this weekend to ride in Japan, said Broadsiding’s effort was extraordinary.

“There was a lot going on and this horse was just all class, he wasn’t entitled to do what he did,” the leading Melbourne rider said.

“There was a bit of interference going on in front of us so I had to drop back.”

“When I rode him a few starts back I thought he was classy.”

“Even good horses shouldn’t win like that because he had no favours at all.”

Cummings said Broadsiding only had to pull up well from the Sires’ Produce to be a certain JJ Atkins starter.

A second G1 victory on 15 June, complementing his Listed and G2 wins this season, would surely elevate Broadsiding to the top of the two-year-olds’ honours list. 

“The horse is class and we’re lucky to have him,” Cummings added.

“He’s a credit to the international team, given that he is by Too Darn Hot and he can come here and be such an incredible two-year-old this season in Australia.”

Two races later, stablemate In Secret (Jamie Kah) returned from a spell with a terrific third behind I Wish I Win and Bella Nipotina in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup over 1,300m.

Cummings hinted he could give the four-year-old mare only a light winter program before again targeting the $20 million The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick in October.

At Caulfield, stablemate Jewellery backed up good Canterbury and Scone (metro) placings this preparation with a dominant win in the Benchmark 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1,100m.

Quietly ridden by Dan Stackhouse, the four-year-old daughter of Lonhro skirted the field on the home turn and finished fast to beat Hearcomesthestar and I Choose You to take her record to three wins and four placings from 10 starts.