ATOMIC FORCE sent for a spell after 2nd in Group 1 Telegraph

22 Jan 12

A simply brilliant effort in a roughhouse race where interference received by Atomic Force at the 400m is believed by connections to have cost Atomic Force a victory however full credit to the winner Guiseppina who was simply amazing to come from back in the ruck to score in the shadows of the post in a sizzling time of 1:06.94 secs the fifth fastest time recorded in the history of the event and just .44 outside the record.

However there was controversy and drama in the race in which Durham Town and Atomic Force were the victims of interference at the 400m which clearly resulted from the wayward Eight Schillings (jockey Sam Spratt)who rolls in to the fence taking Atomic Force in upon Durham Town. The result was Atomic Force was turned sideways and injured behind whilst worse, rival rider Vinnie Colgan dismounted from Durham Town as he was being squeezed into towards the running rail.

Certainly the incident cost Durham Town dearly however Atomic Force suffered far more interference than the short neck margin he was defeated.

Seriously, NZ racing and the Stewards there should take a hard look at allowing such a high pressure races to be conducted on a straight track where there is a dog leg as they come out of a chute to join the course proper. There is such a wide gap that horses on pace get lost and race erratically. There is little doubt that a false rail or markers should be employed to give runners a guide. By luck not good management, both Durham Town and Atomic Force appear to have come through without career threatening injuries and both riders Vinnie Coulgan and Nash Rawiller are healthy although Vinnie Colgan appears to have bone damage to a hand.

Head on footage shows both Atomic Force and Durham Town having positioned to the inside of Sam Spratt's mount and certainly Atomic Force had established his rightful running with adequate room for both runners to Spratt's inside but despite Nash calling out she does not stop riding her horse over.

As a result Atomic Force got injured behind by Durham Town when Atomic Force was turned sideways. Because of the scrimmage, Nash was forced to go infront of the wayward Eight Schillings and riderless Durham Town. This flushed us out without cover 350m from home way too early carrying 59.0kgs running that sort of time.

Atomic Force kicked hard at the 200m but the weight started to take its toll and the swooper with 53.0kgs on her back ran down the outside to grab him with two strides to run.

What a fantastic effort.

Especially when we consider multiple Gr1 winner Mufhasa won the race last year as a benchmark rating 107 the same as Atomic Force yet only carried 56.5kgs. We carried 59.0kgs as the same benchmark. 2.5kgs worse - Why ? The race was no weaker than last year's field in comparison ?

The winner Guiseppina was simply brilliant. Credit to her and her trainer and owner. She is a terrific racehorse and what she did in running deserved a win. But we believe we may have been a bit unlucky ourselves and certainly the connections of Durham Town can feel aggrieved as well that they did not get a chance to finish off the race.

ATOMIC FORCE did everybody proud. He has come a long way since arriving at Darren Smith's stables and winning first up a Hawkesbury benchmark 70 event on 13 May 2010. He had 6 starts in his first preparation for Darren including 3 wins and a 2nd.

ATOMIC FORCE has now been sent for a well deserved spell. He will stay in NZ for the first part of the spell before coming back over to Sydney to continue his break from training.

Wow what a preparation he has had.

CAREER: ATOMIC FORCE = 37 Starts: 11 wins, 7 seconds, 6 thirds $906,853.

Dual Group 1 Winner, Dual LR Winner.

Darren Smith has trained the horse for 24 starts and earned a prizecheque 24 times including 9 wins.

This preparation was over 14 months.

During this period he raced 18 starts and also had 7 trials during that period. He resumed on 4 December 2010.

He won 6 races, 4 seconds, 4 thirds, 2 fourths, 2 sixths $686,634 prizemoney.