He commanded a top price at the breeze-up sales, and Tron Bolt now looks primed for a Group 1 campaign after his dominant midweek success at Randwick’s Kensington track.
The $900,000 purchase by Hermitage Thoroughbreds – the top sum for a colt at an Inglis Ready2Race sale – Tron Bolt has the J J Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm in sight next month, potentially through the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“There’s the Sires’ Produce in Queensland. It’s two-and-a-half weeks (away), or the same day at Rosehill there’s a 1300. It will be one of the two,” trainer Chris Waller said of Tron Bolt’s next start.
“Ideally, he can win then or run well and go to the J J Atkins.
“He was a nice Ready-To-Run horse, and he’s impressed us since day one.”
A Toronado colt, Tron Bolt ($2.70) placed third on debut at Kembla Grange in April yet showed superior quality against his opponents in Wednesday’s Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1400m).
Closing with authority under James McDonald, he triumphed by three lengths ahead of Rolling Home ($8.50), while stablemate Unhinged ($2.50 fav) was a long head back in third.
Waller boasts a strong record in spotting later-maturing two-year-olds for Queensland’s key carnival events, especially the J J Atkins, and believes Tron Bolt matches the profile.
“It works well, and we’ve had it in mind for him for a while,” he said.
“He obviously needed to win today. He is a lovely, scopey horse, that’s why I’m thinking a mile.”
Even with news this week that Saturday’s standout Ken Russell Memorial Classic victor St Gotthard is heading for a spell, Waller remains well-positioned for the Atkins.
In addition to Tron Bolt, Clarendon Stakes winner Stormy Marco and runner-up Nation’s League – who was withdrawn from Kensington on Wednesday – are both targeted at the juvenile highlight.
“They need to keep improving,” Waller said.
“I like to give them a run or two at two, otherwise they find it hard to measure up at three.”
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing odds on the J J Atkins.