Overlord runs JJ Atkins Stakes on anniversary of the military operation he is named after
The horse named after the WWII D-Day invasion runs in the JJ Atkins Stakes on the same date, June 6, as the Allies launched a land, sea and air invasion of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France in 1944.
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Overlord, the racehorse named after the World War II D-Day invasion, can make history himself if he wins the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The feature two-year-old race is run on the same date, June 6, as the Allies launched a combined land, sea and air invasion of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France in 1944.
The invasion was code-named “Operation Overlord” which ultimately led to the fall of Germany a year later and is also the inspiration for the naming of the two-year-old colt, owned and bred by Vietnam veteran Geoff Grimish.
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“When I go for my morning walk each day, I often look out over the ocean and wonder what the Germans were thinking all those years ago,’’ Grimish said. “They knew the Allies were coming, they just didn’t know where or when.’’
Grimish names most of his racehorses with a military theme to honour those men and women he fought alongside during the Vietnam War, and for military personnel who paid the ultimate sacrifice when fighting for their country in war.
During the Vietnam War, Grimish fought in the Battle of Coral, one of the Australian Army’s most significant battles during that conflict which claimed the lives of 25 Australian soldiers. It is estimated nearly 300 North Vietnamese soldiers were killed.
He had always wanted to use the name “Overlord” for one of his racehorses and waited until his former outstanding mare, Red Tracer, produced a well-conformed Sebring colt to register the name.
But Grimish was unaware of the significance of the JJ Atkins Stakes race date until about two months ago.
Overlord, trained by Chris Waller, was showing some ability and Grimish was hoping the colt might measure up to the Group 1 $350,000 JJ Atkins when he looked up the race date.
“I couldn’t believe the JJ Atkins was on June 6,’’ Grimish said.
Waller remembers his owner telling him of the significance of Overlord’s name and the June 6 date.
“Geoff asked me if there was any chance Overlord could get to the race,’’ Waller said.
“When he explained the circumstances around this, which are quite surreal, I just said to Geoff: ‘Consider it done’.
“What those boys did for Australia and New Zealand in war is unbelievable, we owe them so much, and it is amazing to think that all these years later Overlord is racing on June 6.’’
Overlord, placed in each of his three starts, has a difficult task confronting him after being drawn to start out of barrier 17 in Saturday’s big race.
“The draw is not going to help us much,’’ Waller said. “He is going to need some luck in running.
“But Overlord is a really exciting horse and I’m just hoping this race hasn’t come up a little too quickly for him.’’
Waller, who is chasing his fourth JJ Atkins win after previous successes with Pressday (2010), Press Statement (2015) and The Autumn Sun (2018), also has Saffiano and Spokesman in the race.
“Saffiano and Spokesman have both drawn perfectly, the 1400m will suit them and they have blinkers on,’’ the trainer said.
Waller is also represented by Madam Rouge in the final Group 1 race of the season, the $350,000 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Madam Rouge is rated only a $51 chance for the Stradbroke but Waller is not ruling out an upset.
“Everyone that has been riding Madam Rouge has given me positive reports,’’ Waller said.
“Wet tracks and bad barriers have been against her but she can run a good race.’’
***
Busy colt primed to defy 27 years of Straddie history
Trainer Adrian Bott is adamant racing twice in a week won’t be an issue for boom colt Dawn Passage in the Group 1 $350,000 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Dawn Passage only secured a Stradbroke start – and race favouritism – with his win last weekend in the Fred Best Classic.
But Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said Dawn Passage has been prepared specifically for the seven-day back-up into the Stradbroke.
“I’m satisfied with the program we have set for the colt,’’ Bott said.
“We had the mindset that he had needed to run in the Fred Best Classic to be sure of getting into the Stradbroke.
“In order to do that, he had to have the quick back-up but it won’t be harmful to his chances of winning the ‘Grand Final’.
“He seems to have pulled up very well, he was nice and bright yesterday morning. He will have an easy week and he will be ready to go on Saturday.’’
Dawn Passage, winner of the Hawkesbury Guineas, Scone Guineas and Fred Best Classic in successive starts, has firmed into $4.50 favouritism on TAB Fixed Odds for the Stradbroke.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained sprinter is attempting to become the first three-year-old colt this century to start as favourite and win the Stradbroke. The last colt to achieve the feat was Never Undercharge (7/2) in 1993.
Waterhouse is aiming for a 144th career Group 1 win by securing her first Stradbroke with Dawn Passage.
It will also cap a sensational season for Waterhouse and Bott who has prepared four Group 1 winners already this year with Farnan in the Golden Slipper, Con Te Partiro’s Coolmore Classic-Queen of the Turf Stakes double, and Shout The Bar’s win in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Dawn Passage drops 7kg to just 50kg for the Stradbroke with Bott conceding today’s crucial barrier will determine race tactics for new jockey James Innes.
“The draw will ultimately dictate where he is in running,’’ Bott said.
“But what is pleasing is this horse is not one-dimensional, he can be ridden back in the field or we can make use of him early if needed.
“I think we want to be able to take advantage of his lightweight so tactically we can ride a race that suits the horse.’’
Bott said Farnan and Con Te Partiro are due to return to training at Tulloch Lodge next week while Shout The Bar is in pre-training and should be back at Randwick by the middle of the month.
Farnan is likely to be aimed at the $15 million The TAB Everest, particularly as the colt’s owners, Aquis, have an Everest slot.
Con Te Partiro will be set for the Epsom Handicap with a long-range plan of taking the mare to America for the US Breeders Cup meeting later in the year.
#Classique Legend, another likely The Everest contender, is equal top weight at 60kg with Jungle Edge and Tactical Advantage for the Listed $150,000 Bob Charley June Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The brilliant Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend is among a strong entry of 21 sprinters for the feature race that also includes Godolphin’s Viridine and Coruscate, last start Takeover Target Stakes winner Snitz, and in-form sprinters Adelong and Witherspoon.
Originally published as Overlord runs JJ Atkins Stakes on anniversary of the military operation he is named after
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