Like An Atom To Debut For Robinson In Oaks Prelude
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 16, 2001
Glamour Kiwi filly Like An Atom will have her first start for Shoalhaven Heads trainer Chris Robinson when she tackles a prelude of the NSW Oaks at Harold Park tonight.
The winner of 11 of her 19 starts was recently purchased for $100,000, and a quick return on that would come should she win in the lead-up to next week's $75,000 classic.
A seasoned campaigner in top races, Like An Atom won at Harold Park in the Pink Bonnet Mile last season. She will start a long odds-on favourite tonight in a field lacking her quality.
In the other prelude tonight, perennial big-race bridesmaid Benevolent, and Hei Tenacity are set to fight out the finish.
Robinson will be out to create a big impression with Like An Atom, as the Oaks will be a much tougher assignment.
Of the prospective Oaks runners not competing in the preludes, New Zealand filly Sparks A Flyin, beaten only once in eight starts, shapes as the one the locals have to worry about.
Sparks A Flyin won her latest outing, over a mile at Ashburton, in 1min56.1s. Her past four starts, all wins, have been run in under two-minute mile rates.
Also heading towards the Oaks is Queenslander Cherry Cheer, which scored her 10th win in succession at Albion Park last Saturday night.
The most notable Oaks candidate, however, is top NSW filly Palace Star. The three-year-old has scored four wins since resuming from a spell, the latest at Harold Park on Tuesday, and her list of credits includes the feature race double of the Princess Mile-J.L. Raith Memorial.
For the InterDominion, to be held at Albion Park, the series is now beginning to hot up, with the third rankings being released this week.
The reigning champion, Shakamaker, tops the list, with bookmaker Steve Single saying the champ has been well backed to take successive titles.
``He is in from 9-2 to 7-2 and is just behind Atitagain," said Single, whose InterDominion market has Atitagain at $3.75, Shakamaker $4.50, Holmes D G $11, Persistency $12, Ouch $13, Courage Under Fire and Yulestar both $15 and Cee New York $16.
Injury plagued pacer Persistency produced a slight scare for trainer Gavin Lang after competing in a time trial at Ballarat last Sunday.
Lang noticed some filling in a hind leg of the talented six-year-old, but remains keen to push ahead to the InterDominion.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald
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