Impressive Return for Atlante

Winner of the Group I New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas last year, talented entire Atlante (4h Fastnet Rock x Readyforcatherine, by More Than Ready) 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.