Winner
of the Group I New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas last year, talented Fastnet
Rock entire Atlante staked his claim for a good spring campaign when he surged
late to win the Listed MVRC Drummond Golf Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Now with Team Hawkes after being trained previously by Murray Baker, Atlante
was resuming from a spell and found the line with determination in a
competitive finish to win the 1200 metre sprint by a short half head.
"He's really well and looks great," said Wayne Hawkes.
"He's already a Group I winner in New Zealand, but the owners were chasing Black
Type in Australia, so that's our first goal out of the way today."
Atlante was bred in Australia by Reavill Farm and fetched $170,000 at the
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he was bought by New Zealand
pinhookers Lyndhurst Farm, who re-offered the colt at the NZB Ready to Run Sale
where he was bought for $200,000 by Bruce Perry Bloodstock.
He has four wins and two placings from 10 starts with prizemoney of $349,088
and is entered for the Group I MVRC Cox Plate.
Atlante is the first winner for stakes-placed More Than Ready mare
Readyforcatherine, who unfortunately missed to Fastnet Rock last year.