Atlante lived up to the opinion his trainer Murray Baker had of him at the start of the season when he took out the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
Atlante led most of the way and despite hanging and being headed in the straight by Chambord, he had something in reserve and won the Group One Classic going away by three-quarters of a length.
The Fastnet Rock colt hadn’t raced until August and had run four times prior to Saturday’s 1600m contest, but he had won his previous two and started a narrow favourite at Riccarton.
Bruce Perry, who manages the syndicate which owns Atlante, says Baker, who trains the colt with Andrew Forsman at Cambridge, had high regard for the horse shortly after he entered the stable.
“Before he went to the races he did all his work with Dundeel, so I think that probably tells you what sort of regard they held the horse in at an early stage,” Perry said.
Jockey Opie Bosson said Atlante could have won more easily if he hadn’t veered out going round the final turn 400m from the line.
“I couldn’t steer him. He was hanging so bad in the straight,” he said.
“If he had run straight he would have won by five lengths.
“He’s got raw ability and once he puts it all together and he grows up he’s going to be pretty decent.”
Chambord also looked like a horse which would improve with the experience, while Gobi Ranger ran genuinely on the rail to take third.
Second favourite Sacred Park finished sixth, possibly feeling the firm track conditions.
