Easy work for Atomica in Labour Day Trophy

A rusty ATOMICA got caught in the slipstream last time out in the Saint Cecelia Cup, chasing YELLOWSTONE's suicidal splits of 34.1 and 46.1 before I AM FRED and RUNAWAY ALGO attacked as a team off the home turn, jazzing up the tempo to 57.0 a furlong and a half out.

Reporting off two distance races four months prior, ATOMICA did her best, chasing super-fit YELLOWSTONE, but failed to kick when the big three - SHE'S MY DESTINY, I AM FRED and RUNAWAY ALGO - crowded her leaving the three pole.

Making her seasonal debut with near topweight off a four-month break, ATOMICA could not have asked for a worse day at work, a run which can be safely ignored when she takes on overnight-allowance runners in Tuesday's Labour Day Trophy.

ATOMICA's last-place finish in the Saint Cecelia Cup, 14 lengths behind I AM FRED at six and a half furlongs, was greatly exaggerated by Dane Dawkins easing the filly while fifth along the rail a half-furlong out, her path blocked by dying YELLOWSTONE, who had ambitiously carried the field for almost four furlongs.

Apparently, someone failed to hand YELLOWSTONE the memo, pointing out that the Saint Cecelia was stacked with grade-one runners masquerading as open-allowance company. The brave filly still straightened fifth, darting to the rail behind YELLOWSTONE, who ran his best race ever, staying on after being dismissed by the class horses.

ATOMICA was all set to run by YELLOWSTONE along the rail but had to be taken in hand by Dawkins, allowing fourth-place KING ARTHUR to lead the cavalry charge of closers, which relegated her to last.

Gary Subratie continues to treat ATOMICA with kid gloves in the mornings, but she is leagues above overnight allowance and should make light work of the Labour Day Trophy with the Saint Cecelia run under her girth.

Though returning to stall one, ATOMICA, who destroyed grade one in the Jamaica Cup last November, reports two classes lower in overnight company against rivals, who have never felt open-allowance pace.

Breaking from the one hole was already an albatross around ATOMICA's neck, compounded by a stuttering start, forcing Dawkins to hustle her into disputing then chasing YELLOWSTONE with three of the hottest horses in training on her outside - SHE'S MY DESTINY, I AM FRED and RUNAWAY ALGO.