Saturday's G1 JJ Atkins S. at Doomben marks the final chance for juveniles to pick up a Group 1 win, and a pair of New Zealand-bred fillies are among the favoured runners. Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) is favoured off a 4 3/4-length score in the G2 Sires' Produce S. at Eagle Farm on May 27, and she shoots for her fourth straight victory, having won the Listed Karaka Million on Jan. 29 and the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. on Apr. 1. The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained filly has indicated she could be something special, but nonetheless has more than paid back the NZ$57,500 the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate paid for her at Karaka a little over a year ago, having already bankrolled over A$800,000.
Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) made her Australian debut a winning one in Flemington's Super Vobis 2YO Plate for trainer Ciaron Maher on May 20, and she makes a giant class jump in her fourth start. Qiji Phoenix (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) does not bear the NZ suffix, but he is based there with trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs. He won three straight in New Zealand, including the Listed Champagne S. on Apr. 22, before suffering a wide trip and checking in seventh behind Melody Belle in the Sires' Produce.
The JJ Atkins has been a productive sire-making race, with the likes of Darci Brahma (NZ), Show A Heart (Aus), Mossman (Aus) and Zeditave (Aus) on the honour roll, and among those looking to bolster their breeding shed credentials is Taking Aim (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}). Racing for a similar group to the one that sent out G1 Sires' Produce S. winner Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) earlier this season, the China Horse Club colourbearer won the Gold Coast's G3 Ken Russell Memorial S. on May 6 and was second in the G2 Sires' Produce for Peter and Paul Snowden. The G2 Sires' Produce third Pierata (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) looks to improve on that finish to become the first Group 1 winner for his leading first-season sire.
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