Atkins crucial for new sires crown

YOUNG guns Spirit Of Boom and Zoustar will resume their battle for the honour of being named Australia’s champion first-season sire in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Plate at Doomben.

Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom will have two runners in the 1600m race tomorrow, Plumaro and Boomsara, while Widden Stud’s Zoustar will be represented by Zousain and Lean Mean Machine.

Eureka Stud master Scott McAlpine (pictured), of Cambooya on the Darling Downs, said Spirit of Boom had done a wonderful job in his first season.

“I don’t think we can catch Zoustar on prizemoney earned but we are certainly going after him with stakes wins and winners,” McAlpine said.

“Spirit of Boom has had a Queensland record for a firstseason sire of 16 individual winners but I think he will have a few more before the end of the season.

“He has seven stakes horses, winners or placegetters, and to win a Group 1 would be the icing on the cake. He had three horses in the Magic Millions and then to have two in the Atkins is an outstanding effort for a Queensland first-season sire.”