Sheeza Belta produced a stellar performance to hand the Snowden stable a third elite level this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with another win over the boys in the Group 1 $1 million J.J. Atkins (1600m).
One-length winner of the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at the track last start, Gold Standard filly Sheeza Belta franked that form up in grade and distance stepping up to a mile on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Queensland Oaks winning jockey from last weekend, William Pike, produced another well-timed ride on another top-performing filly to get Sheeza Belta home first in this year’s J.J. Atkins.
Making up ground around the turn, she came into contention on the straight and hit the lead at the 250m mark.
From there, Sheeza Belta ($4.20) was able to charge home and hold out the challengers to become the first two-year-old to complete the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes – J.J. Atkins double since Sizzling (2012).
“It’s certainly been pretty good,” co-trainer Peter Snowden told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win.
“All the hard work culminates into days like today so it’s very special.
“She’s always been tough and resilient at home, she cops the work. Everything about her suggested she is going to get to that really good level and here we are today.
“We’ll get her out and give her a break on Monday but she’s got a really good spring ahead of her now.”
After getting caught back in the field the Chris Waller-trained The Phoenix winner from last weekend, Political Debate ($5.50), was just getting back into his stride the closing stages producing a huge effort to run second in an eye-catching run.
“Disappointing to run second. He went unbelievable, he’s a beautiful horse who will be a really good horse in the spring and autumn,” beaten jockey James McDonald said of the runner-up Political Debate.
“He just lost it at the start. He jumped well but just didn’t muster for the first 50 metres and the last place we wanted to be was back where we were.
“He sliced through beautifully, we got a lovely run through and he attacked the line really well the last furlong, furlong and a half. It was a brilliant run.”
Also good in the money running third in a photo finish for the minors was last start Flemington winner Brosnan ($26) at huge odds for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou.
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