JJ Atkins Tips & Preview 2023

Looking for JJ Atkins tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.

JJ ATKINS BETTING SNAPSHOT

The Chris Waller-trained Tannhauser is the $4.20 favourite for the JJ Atkins at $4.20 with NEDS after the barrier draw ahead of last weekend’s The Phoenix (1500m) winner, Azula, at $7. Make A Call is also at the $7 quote, while the stablemate of Tannhauser, Congregation, is at $8. 

There are 17 horses in action for the $1 million race for the two-year-olds and the BRC Sires Produce (1400m) runner-up, Snapback, is at $10, while Miracle Of Love is at $12. Chysaor and Cifrado (both $13) head the rest. 

JJ ATKINS FORM ANALYSIS

Tannhauser heads up after claiming a 2yo race at Randwick on May 27 and settled back in the field that day before winding up and winning from Unique Ambition. The son of Dundeel was off a seven-week break after finishing 4th in the Fernhill Handicap (1600m) back in April and went 1.6 lengths faster than standard. That came off a slow tempo and he went 7.8 lengths faster than standard over the last 600m. 

Azula comes in with the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, having gone 3.4 lengths faster than standard in her win at Eagle Farm on June 3. That was off a fast tempo that she set in the lead before holding on from Flying Trapeze. 

11 of the 17 horse field had their most recent start in the BRC Sires Produce, including the winner, Cifrado. The Toowoomba galloper will be going for the hat-trick of wins and overcame trouble early on before gaining the rails run to score, surviving a protest from the 6th placegetter, Make A Call. 

Snapback was runner-up, while Chrysaor filled the minors. Snapback was solid from the wide barrier and was caught out early before working up. Chrysaor seemed to have every chance. Make A Call was hampered by the eventual winner at the 250m before the unsuccessful protest and was beaten just under two lengths. 

Chevron settled a mile back from barrier 17 and produced the fastest last 200m to run 8th, beaten just two lengths. He will have to do it from out wide again. Miss Joelene produced the second fastest last 200m to run 4th. 

Congregation is another Waller galloper up from Sydney and is unbeaten in his two career starts. The son of Snitzel edged out Tutta La Vita at Rosehill over the 1300m last weekend in what was a good trial, going 1.8 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is the second best last start figure of any runner. Like a lot of these, he might have some upside. 

JJ ATKINS TIPS AND BEST BETS

Chris Waller can add to his collection of three wins in this race and first since 2018 with The Autumn Sun. It is Tannhauser that showed excellent acceleration at the business end of his most recent race and does look ready for another crack at the mile. His previous go at the trip was on a Heavy track at Randwick and he did show improvement that day but the prospect of something drier looks like it will suit, while he might have come on since the Randwick run. The son of Dundeel draws well in barrier 6 with James McDonald to ride and the race should set up nicely with Azula and King Colorado to go forward.