The Autumn Sun Clear Favourite in JJ Atkins Betting
The Autumn Sun will resume in the Stan Fox Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

The Autumn Sun Clear Favourite in JJ Atkins Betting

The Autumn Sun faces a big step up in class at Doomben on Saturday but has opened the clear $2.45 favourite in 2018 JJ Atkins betting.

The Autumn Sun showed plenty of ability through a handful of trials prior to making his competitive debut and he immediately stamped himself as a colt to follow when an easy two-length winner of a 1200m race at Randwick on April 25th.

Trainer Chris Waller elected to trial the horse in the lead-up to his second start and the decision proved decisive when he strode away from his rivals to post another classy win, this time over 1400m.

A step up to a mile into the JJ Atkins field looks ideal and he could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 6 and with leading hoop Kerrin McEvoy aboard.

Lean Mean Machine ($4.40) has been in strong and consistent form this year and looms as The Autumn Sun’s major danger in the JJ Atkins 2018.

The Zoustar colt has only made an ideal racing debut when a smart winner at Warwick Farm on March 14th, before making a commendable transition to black type company when third in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) on Day 1 of The Championships.

He trialled before heading north and while he was caught at the tail of the field in running in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 5th, produced a strong turn of foot to finish third behind Stradbroke Handicap favourite Champagne Cuddles.

He held a line on the rails and beat several of his JJ Atkins rivals in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) a fortnight ago and will prove hard to hold out again on Saturday.

Interestingly the only other runner currently available at JJ Atkins odds of less-than $10, Zousain ($7.50) failed to justify favouritism in the BRC Sires’ Produce last time, but can atone here.

The son of Zoustar debuted for a win over 1000m at Randwick in February, before mustering a credible performance for fourth in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).

Sent for a freshen-up after failing to fire in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) on March 17th, Zousain delivered a decent field a resounding defeat in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) upon arriving in Brisbane, before a credible run for second behind Lean Mean Machine a fortnight ago.

The outside barrier is something of a concern for Zousain, but he’ll be ridden by James McDonald and should be good enough to be right in the finish of the JJ Atkins.

Steve O’Dea will saddle two horses in the JJ Atkins field including Sesar ($13), who looks as though he’ll relish the mile and could prove over the odds at his current quote.