Broadsiding strengthens champion case with JJ Atkins demolition

Superb colt Broadsiding continued his exceptional campaign with a dominant display in the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday, adding further weight to his Champion Two-Year-Old hopes.

The son of Too Darn Hot had already annexed the Listed Fernhill Mile, G1 Champagne Stakes and G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes this season, but produced his best performance so far as he cruised home under James McDonald.

Broadsiding is the only juvenile to win two G1 races this season, placing him in pole position to be crowned Champion Two-Year-Old, while his sire holds an unassailable lead in the standings for Australia’s Champion First-Season Sire. Connections are already looking forward to Broadsiding’s three-year-old season, with the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate among some lofty targets.

Vilana ran an excellent race on the same Eagle Farm card, taking third in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, while Wholeness secured important G3 Black Type in Japan on Sunday with a closing third in Kyoto’s Mermaid Stakes.

Royal Ascot, the jewel of the UK summer season, dominates this week and Godolphin heads into the meeting with several strong chances. Notable Speech was a brilliant winner of the 2,000 Guineas on his turf debut and the Dubawi colt takes on the Irish and French 2,000 Guineas victors in Tuesday’s G1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

Trawlerman edged out Kyprios in last season’s G2 Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day and the duo take each other on again in the G1 Gold Cup on Thursday. Diamond Rain, who also boasts course-winning form, steps up to G2 level for the Ribblesdale Stakes on the same day.

Devoted Queen puts her unbeaten record on the line as she looks to follow up an impressive York Listed win in Friday’s G1 Coronation Stakes. Fellow three-year-old filly Romantic Style drops back to seven furlongs for Saturday’s G3 Jersey Stakes after coming home fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Al Qudra, Symbol Of Honour, Mountain Breeze and Age Of Gold will also be looking to continue bright starts to their careers in some of the meeting’s juvenile races.