Mishani Bullitt shoots for J J Atkins
Trainer Chris Anderson’s confidence in Mishani Bullitt has been rewarded with the two-year-old confirming a Group One path by winning the $60,000 Sacred Elixir Handicap at the Sunshine Coast.
Mishani Bullitt ($5.50) overcame the widest barrier on Sunday to take up a position under Ron Stewart outside the leader to the turn.
He took the lead and held off the unlucky Capital Gain ($3 fav) by half a length in a slog up the Caloundra straight.
The 1400m-race was renamed for last year’s winner and subsequent J J Atkins winner, Sacred Elixir.
It is designed to help horses on their way to the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes on May 27 and the Group One J J Atkins Stakes on June 10.
Mishani Bullitt is headed to those two races and the $40,000 he picked up on Sunday should ensure he gets in the fields.
“He has $61,500 now in prize money and that should be enough to get into the fields,” Anderson said.
“Mishani Bullitt will give them something to think about, anyway.”
Anderson has always had a big opinion of Mishani Bullitt who cost his owner Mick Crooks $75,000 as a yearling.
The gelding had run three minor placings from his first five starts including a first-up second at the Sunshine Coast.
“He has had no luck in his previous races with bad barriers and the like. When we drew poorly again, I thought here we go again,” Anderson said.
“But he got into a handy position and while he got a bit tired he was entitled to. He was second-up on a heavy track from a wide barrier.”
Capital Gain, who has been the subject of offers from Hong Kong, gave Mishani Bullitt seven lengths from the 300m and only just failed to catch him.
He is also being aimed at the Sires’- Atkins double.