Dual Group 1 Winner ATOMIC FORCE trialed impressively at Gosford on Friday morning leading all the way to score a 2.5 length x 4.5 length win in 50.49 on a slow track with jockey Josh Parr aboard carrying about 62.0kgs. The horse pulled up well after the run and displayed that he has a good level of fitness to him.
This was the first trial back after being injured at his last start back on 13 April in the TJ Smith behind Black Caviar.
ATOMIC FORCE tore a muscle in his back / pelvis region when he slipped upon jumping from the barrier. The horse was sent to the paddock and received around the clock treatment so we could get him back to the track for an attempt at the Sir John Monash and Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield over the next few weeks. Michael Rodd has been booked for his return run in the Sir John Monash.
Unfortunately for his owners and fans, the big horse has had an interrupted progression with the heavy rain playing havoc with vital gallops and barrier trials being abandoned and rescheduled.
ATOMIC FORCE is a likely runner next Saturday at Caulfield in the Sir John Monash Stakes a LR over 1100m at Weight For Age and then following up a fortnight later in the Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes 1200m at Weight For Age. Then 3 weeks later, on 17 August the main aim of this preparation will be the Gr2 P B Lawrence Stakes 1400m at Weight For Age.
Jockeys and Track Riders have been urging his trainer and connections to extend the distances as the belief is the horse is looking for further ground. Riders such as Nash Rawiller, Hugh Bowman, Josh Parr and others have all suggested he is looking for 1400m. The horse had a few issues last preparation which prevented the team getting him out to this trip but its hopeful that ATOMIC FORCE will be tried at this distance this preparation.
ATOMIC FORCE has struggled to get back from an injury sustained in NZ in the Gr1 Telegraph where he finished 2nd having won the Gr1 Railway the start prior. He developed a large splint on the inside of his off fore cannon bone and this had been irritating the horse. However he ran well beaten just a half length in the Carlyon Stakes LR and 1.7 lengths in the Moir Stakes before that injury flared again.
A subsequent spell saw the horse return in March in the Challenge and Galaxy where both runs were below par before sustaining the injury to his back in the T J Smith.
That was 12 weeks ago and ATOMIC FORCE has been nursed back to fitness by the dedication of the Spelling Farm and Pre-Trainers and then the care of his trainer Darren Smith.
After Friday morning’s trial the horse will be monitored over the next 48 hours to ensure there is no recurrence to the previous injury sites and if all is good to go, ATOMIC FORCE will have a hit out at Newcastle on Tuesday morning and then head to Melbourne Wednesday night. If there is any doubt as to the horse’s fitness to run a strong 1100m on 13 July, ATOMIC FORCE will remain in Newcastle and resume in the Bletchingly Stakes on 27 July.