Atom Eve returns to Warwick Farm after winter break
TALENTED mare Atom Eve returns to the track this Wednesday at Warwick Farm after spending the winter sidelined with injury.
The Norm Gardner-trained five-year-old hasn’t raced since running seventh behind Invincible Gem at Rosehill on January 28, which came immediately after winning the Highway Handicap by a half-length.
“She had to have a bone chip removed from her knee, that’s why she’s been off for so long,” Gardner told Horsebetting.com.au. “She’s fine now, I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Atom Eve has been given two trials this time in and its placing last start at Wagga Wagga looked top quality. Gardner has since given the mare a jump out to further progress its fitness.
“I was very happy with that,” he said. “We didn’t knock her around and he’s a fast horse that Ketchum and she almost ran it down so I was pleased with that.
“I even gave her a jump out last week at Canberra to make sure she wasn’t underdone.”
Gardner has targeted a benchmark rating 73 for Atom Eve on Wednesday and despite taking on a tough field, Gardner is predicting a top effort from the daughter of I Am Invicible.
“I expect her to run well. I’ve got the option to go to Canberra on Friday, but at this stage we’ll go to Warwick Farm and I’m happy with her,” Gardner said.
“She’s never looked better, she’s matured and has strengthened up.”
No longer eligible for Highway Handicap races having scored four wins from eight starts, Gardner will instead look towards the Anniversary Highway on The Everest day at Randwick, which is open to any horse that has raced in a Highway Handicap.
“My main aim is to try get her into the Anniversary Highway in October,” Gardner said. “It’s a $200,000 race for horses that have been in Highway’s, so I’ll run her this week and look to see if we can get a run in that.”
Gardner hasn’t looked past the Anniversary Handicap as of yet, but will limit Atom Eve to a handful of runs this spring before preparing an autumn campaign next year.
“I’ll sit back and have a look,” he said. “I’d like to give her three or four runs this spring then give her a break again for the autumn.
“We’re not going to overtax her, but she looks brilliant.”
Punters can bet on Wednesday’s race at Warwick Farm with CrownBet.com.au when the final field is released on Monday.