Atkins target for Pardoe

Don’t knock the Warwick form.

That was the advice from Tony Sears after Pardoe rocketed into Group One contention after his fast-finishing win in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Sears took the unconventional step of starting Pardoe at Warwick last month to begin his carnival campaign.

The colt was successful on that occasion and again at his following start at Ipswich before the Oxlade.

“When I took him to Warwick people thought he was no good but I went there because it was a transferred meeting from Brisbane,” Sears said.

The Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 is on the agenda for Pardoe.

“He’ll possibly have one more run or go straight into the Atkins,” Sears said.

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“I’ve always thought that he’s going to be a miler.

“I could be proven wrong, but I think he’s progressing in the right way.”

Prospective buyers of Pardoe will have to up the ante after his Oxlade win.

“We had a very good offer for him during the week but we decided not to sell,” Sears said.

“I said to the owners I think he’ll be a pretty good horse when he gets to a mile and after (this) Saturday if they still want him they can come back with another offer.”

Trainer Chris Munce will start runner-up Skate To Paris in The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm on June 3.

It’s unlikely Skate To Paris will go on to the Atkins because Munce doesn’t want to rush the filly in the short term as he plans to target next year’s Queensland Oaks.

Jockey Tegan Harrison was delighted with the effort of fourth placegetter Cabin Fever and rates her an ideal Atkins contender.