Bosma Looks Forward to Atishu's 5-Year-Old Campaign

Atishu's value as a broodmare soared to new heights when she claimed the first group 1 of her career in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse April 8, but despite the breeding stock sales being just around the corner Go Racing's Albert Bosma has no intention of selling the daughter of Savabeel  this year. 

The Chris Waller-trained 5-year-old produced the performance of her career when soaring to a two and a half length victory over Hope In Your Heart over the weekend and Bosma told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday that although it had not always been a straightforward journey with the mercurial mare, he had always kept the faith she would eventually overcome her issues and make her mark in elite company.  

"We were absolutely delighted with the win," Bosma said. "We always knew that she was very, very good. She just seemed to be one of those horses that always drew the wrong barrier, gets caught three wide or gets back in the field and is unlucky, but that has been mainly from barrier draws, so it was a very satisfying result.

"To have a horse like Alcohol Free in the race, who is one of the best mares in the world, and for her to beat her is immensely satisfying. The way that Atishu won was so impressive and we always knew she had it in her, so I am also so pleased for her, the owners, and for our business and everything we have tried to achieve, it is incredibly satisfying."

Prior to Saturday's victory she signaled she was returning to something like her best when she finished second in last month's Emancipation Stakes (G2) at Rosehill and Bosma said her recent run of good results is mainly down to confidence, which he believes took a hit during the mare's 4-year-old season, leading her to refuse to leave the barriers on two occasions. 

"She went through that patch a year ago where she refused to jump from the barriers, so she has been an interesting horse, but she has always had a sensational turn of foot," he explained.

"As a 3-year-old filly, she won a stakes race and broke 32 seconds for the last 600 (meters) and that is a very rare thing to do and that signaled to us that she was very good because horses don't do that. 

Bosma believes Atishu is at the height of her powers with some of her best days still ahead of her and wants to take advantage of that before thinking about her second career in the breeding barn. 

"She will have another season on the track. The prize money is so good in Australia and she is racing better than she ever has," he said. "If we were to sell her I'm sure she would make a lot of money, but the way she is racing you would like to think she could win another group 1, and with the way prize money is, she has the ability to win at least what she is worth in the next 12 months."

With a group 1 now under her belt, Bosma said the mare would likely be given a chance to double her elite-level tally before the season is out, mooting the Doomben Cup (G1) at Eagle Farm May 20 as a possible target and then attention will be turned towards spring targets. 

"I personally think she is a better 2,000-meter horse and she has a ripper of a record over 2,000 meters, with two wins and a second in three starts. I will talk to Chris (Waller), but I would imagine the Doomben Cup will be the target and then a break, before focussing on the spring," Bosma said

"There are a lot of options for her. Chris has trained for me for more than 20 years and he has always said, 'it is not their age, it is the willingness to race and how they are racing,' and that is what should determine if you should carry on or not.

"It is tricky with mares because you have to pick the right time to retire them, but when she has had a career-best performance like that and then sell her, it is likely that people who buy her are going to give her another season anyway—it would be very, very difficult to sell her now."