MUDGEE trainer Cameron Crockett will take part in the biggest race of his career on Saturday when he saddles up Barbass in the $500,000 Group One J J Atkins Stakes at Brisbane's Eagle Farm Racecourse.
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The rising gelding gave Crockett the biggest win of his career last month when he scored in the $100,000 Inglis Two-Year-Old Challenge (1100m) at Scone.
Saturday will be another huge step up in class, with Crockett locking horns with the likes of renowned trainers John O'Shea, Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes and Peter and Paul Snowden.
Barbass has raced six times, scoring one win, three seconds and a third and is further benefited by the fact Damien Oliver will be in the saddle on Saturday.
Crockett has achieved plenty of success in his relatively young training career, having seen Iron Blue race in the $400,000 Country Championship Final at Randwick while Are You Sure has won the Coonabarabran Cup, the Wellington Cup and also tasted success at Canterbury.
One of the big contenders Crockett will have to be wary of at Eagle Farm on Saturday will be ridden by Cowra product Michael Cahill.
Cahill was in the saddle of Nikitas when the Kelso Wood-trained two-year-old ran second to Capitalist in the Magic Millions and has been given the ride again on Saturday.
"Nikitas showed his class when he was second to Capitalist in the Magic Millions. That form looks pretty good now with Capitalist winning the Golden Slipper," Wood said.
"I have said all along that Nikitas was a horse looking for a big track and 1400 to 1600 metres. His run in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes when third two weeks ago showed that again.
"He finished better than anything else in the race.
"I would be disappointed if he didn't run well."
Nikitas is by Snitzel, the sire of Sizzling, who won the 2012 J J Atkins for Wood and the same owners.
"I go back a long way with David Devine who has been a great supporter of mine. I have lost count of the winners we have had," Wood said.
"Neville Morgan has also been a great supporter and he has had a lot of luck in Group One races with horses such as Kermadec, Rangirangdoo and Sizzling.
"Let's hope his luck continues on Saturday."
Favourite for the J J Atkins is New Zealander Sacred Elixir who ran a slashing final 600m when sixth in the BRC Sires' Produce.
Trainer Tony Pike said he believed Sacred Elixir would be much better suited at 1600m and on the bigger Eagle Farm circuit.
Darci Brahma in 2005 is the only New Zealander to win the race in the past 30 years.
The J J Atkins is race seven at Eagle Farm and will jump at 2.20pm.
