Having his first start for Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, Atlante had previously been trained in Cambridge by Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman. The son of Fastnet Rock was transferred to Team Hawkes following an autumn preparation in Sydney for Baker and Forsman.
The winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas carried the colours of JML Bloodstock's Lib Patenga, with the same colours carried to victory in Sydney by Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes less than an hour earlier. To view the full article on Lucia Valentina, click here.
"Hopefully that is just the start," commented Bruce Perry, Bloodstock Agent for JML Bloodstock. "You don't replicate those days too often, you dream about them but they very rarely happen."
Ridden by Dwayne Dunn, Atlante enjoyed an economical run behind the leaders but was waiting for a gap entering the straight. A split came for the four-year-old entire and he burst through to challenge Trust in a Gust (Keep the Faith), it was a close finish but Atlante dug deep to claim victory by short head in a determined finish.
"We were delighted with Atlante's win," said Perry. "It was a great effort to win over 1200m fresh up as there is a lot of improvement in him.
"His next start will be at Caulfield in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, a Group 1 handicap over 1400m, as long as he comes through Saturday's run well.
"He is probably best suited to a mile. We tried to get him out to 2000m in the autumn but because of the wet tracks it was too difficult. On a good track this campaign he might get up to 2000m but he might be best at 1400m and a mile."
Saturday's win was Atlante's fourth victory from only ten starts and his third win at stakes level following his Group 1 victory and a win in the Listed Canterbury Stakes, he has also been placed at Group 2 level in the Hobartville Stakes earlier this year in Sydney. Atlante has amassed A$349,088 for his owners Patenga, Mark & Shelley Treweek and Mrs R Phillippo.
Atlante was purchased by Bruce Perry for NZ$200,000 from the 2012 Ready to Run Sale from Lyndhurst Farm. Earlier in the day at Moonee Valley, another Lyndhurst Farm Ready to Run Sale graduate Caveka (Written Tycoon) took his record to two wins from three starts for trainer Peter Moody, less than one year after going through the sale ring at the Ready to Run Sale last November.
Bred by Reavill Farm Management, Atlante is out of Group 3 and Listed placed mare Readyforcatherine (More Than Ready). He is from an international pedigree that includes American Group 1 winner and sire Talinum (Alydar).
New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale is on 19 & 20 November at Karaka with Breeze Ups on 20 & 21 October at Te Rapa Racecourse. Catalogues will be available for the Ready to Run Sale from 22 September.
NZB Release
