JJ Atkins Stakes: Sacred Elixir could prove a special kind of brew in Group 1 feature

SACRED Elixir is confounding breeding experts and his trainer Tony Pike, who admits the son of English Derby winner Pour Moi is doing things he should not be able to achieve as a two-year-old.

SACRED Elixir is confounding breeding experts and his trainer Tony Pike, who admits the son of English Derby winner Pour Moi is doing things he should not be able to achieve as a two-year-old.

A classy first-up win at Caloundra followed by a flashing lights finish in the BRC Sires Produce has Sacred Elixir close to favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m).

Based on his breeding, the gelding should need at least another year and an extra 800m to show his true colours. Sacred Elixir’s grand dam is Horlicks, the Kiwi mare who in 1989 became the first southern hemisphere-trained horse to win the Japan Cup.

Horlicks produced 13 foals, of which six became winners — the most notable being 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew. Latte, a daughter of Zabeel, produced the ATC Derby and BMW (both 2400m) winner Fiumicino, while another daughter, Tipple, is the dam of the dour dual Chairman’s Handicap winner Tremec.

“He’s a bit of a surprise packet,’’ Pike said. “Pour Moi has only had a handful of runners to the track in New Zealand and being from the family of Horlicks you would think he would need more time. To be doing what he is at the moment is pretty encouraging.”

Pour Moi is a son of Montjeu, who won the 2011 English Derby.

His oldest progeny are now three-year-olds in Europe and he has had 75 to race for 24 winners. His two stakes winners are Only Mine, a 1200m Group 3 winner in Ireland, and Freedom Beel, who won a 2100m Listed race on debut in Italy.

Originally published as JJ Atkins Stakes: Sacred Elixir could prove a special kind of brew in Group 1 feature