Atomica puts Mouttet Mile winner in her crosshairs

ATOMICA’s BRAVE second behind an unbeatable COMMANDANT in last month’s Seeking My Dream Trophy marked her fifth consecutive run-in with United States-bred runners since turning back fellow local-bred, RUN JULIE RUN, in November’s Jamaica Cup.

Facing naturalised FUNCAANDUN in Sunday’s Mark My Word Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards, ATOMICA has the handicaps in her favour at 119 lb against the American, who has topweight 126 lb for his second outing since winning December’s Mouttet Mile.

Returning in April’s Ian Levy Cup, four months after a fantastic Mouttet Mile victory, running down Florida-invader LEGACY ISLE, FUNCAANDUN saw nothing but runner-up ATOMICA’s rear for eight and a half furlongs in the event won by late-charging BARNABY.

Though she hasn’t won since the Jamaica Cup, ATOMICA is at her peak but keeps finding one or two better from among the foreign legion of Mouttet Mile earners.

Set upon by foreigners, starting with a disappointing 10th-place run in December’s Mouttet Mile behind FUNCAANDUN, ATOMICA has not had a breather, allowing overseas winners PACK PLAYS and WALL STREET TRADER 15lb apiece in a third-place run at six and a half furlongs when making her seasonal debut in January.

After that, it was Mouttet-Mile earner BARNABY’s time to twice haul and pull ATOMICA, receiving five pounds when collaring her in the Chairman’s Trophy before having to be driven out to catch the local mare when sitting almost level in April’s Ian Levy at eight and a half furlongs.

FUNCAANDUN blazed seven furlongs in 1:27.3 at exercise last Sunday morning, dismissing stablemate MAMMA MIA. However, to topple race-fit ATOMICA, FUNCAANDUN will have to conjure the form he enjoyed from July to October of last year, dismissing the local mare twice before closing a hat-trick of wins in the Gold Cup.

Omar Walker can expect pesky MAMMA MIA to try playing rabbit for FUNCAANDUN. However, that play could only make Walker’s job easier, an out-of-form target for him to stalk before crippling the field with ATOMICA’s speed and weight advantage.