Roll The Dice Racing hopes that stepping up to 1600 metres for the first time in this weekend’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) can spark improvement in their juvenile colt, Barbaric Lad.
After finishing third on his debut at Sandown-Lakeside on February 7, the son of Brutal broke his maiden at his second attempt just a fortnight later before being sent for a spell in the paddock.
Returning last month, Barbaric Lad placed fifth in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) before finishing sixth in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), three lengths behind the winner Broadsiding, who will also race on Saturday.
“He’s a bit of a work in progress, but Anthony and Sam (Freedman) have got a bit of a wrap on him, and they think he’s going to make a nice kind of miler,” Roll The Dice’s Steve Travaglia told Racing.com.
“He was probably ridden a bit close last start as we were hoping to be back where the favourite Broadsiding was and just really smash the line, but he got knocked around a little bit.
“Still, the 1600 metres will sort a few out and he’s a real top three or four chance and that can set him up for a nice spring.
“The idea is to spell him up there (Queensland) as well. He can have the winter up there and he can come back down to Melbourne.
“He’s got some maturing to do but he’s got good knees and good legs, so I think we’ll have some fun in the spring with him somewhere, if we place him right.”
2024 J.J. Atkins Final Field
1. Broadsiding (2)
- T: James Cummings
- J: James McDonald
- W: 57kg
- F: 11133
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB)
- Dam: Speedway
-625
2. Zouna (5)
- T: Lawrie Mayfield-Smith
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 57kg
- F: 24311
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Zousain
- Dam: Campagna
+260
3. Bittercreek (10)
- T: Leon & Troy Corstens
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 57kg
- F: 4123
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Snitzel
- Dam: Rose of Cimmaron
+220
4. Beau Dazzler (14)
- T: Tony & Maddysen Sears
- J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor
- W: 57kg
- F: 400×7
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Ardrossan
- Dam: Pwerfect
+3700
5. Can’t Recall One (11)
- T: Stuart Kendrick
- J: Robbie Dolan
- W: 57kg
- F: 0x11
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Reliable Man (GB)
- Dam: Recollecting (NZ)
+900
6. Imperialist (12)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 57kg
- F: 148
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Churchill (IRE)
- Dam: Dancing Hare
+160
7. Smashing Time (4)
- T: Robert & Luke Price
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 57kg
- F: 5313
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Brave Smash (JPN)
- Dam: Trick
+320
8. Bosustow (1)
- T: Annabel Neasham
- J: Ryan Maloney
- W: 57kg
- F: 10×32
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam: Bumbasina (IRE)
+350
9. Barbaric Lad (8)
- T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- J: Luke Currie
- W: 57kg
- F: 65×13
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Brutal (NZ)
- Dam: Janast
+400
10. Mr Artemisia (3)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 57kg
- F: 322
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: The Autumn Sun
- Dam: Sultry Dreamer
+220
11. China Sea (9)
- T: John Sargent
- J: Rory Hutchings
- W: 57kg
- F: 1
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fastnet Rock
- Dam: Rippled (GB)
+750
12. El Morzillo (7)
- T: Kelly Schweida
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 55kg
- F: 72439
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Star Witness
- Dam: Avocado
+160
13. Aemelius (6)
- T: Annabel Neasham
- J: Tyler Schiller
- W: 55kg
- F: 215
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Hellbent
- Dam: Mead
+140
14. Pee Bee Noir (13)
- T: Peter & Will Hulbert
- J: Mark Du Plessis
- W: 55kg
- F: 08
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Churchill (IRE)
- Dam: Readyforcatherine
+3700
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