Gotta Kiss primed for JJ Atkins assault

Trainer Steve O’Dea has taken a cautious route to the JJ Atkins with Gotta Kiss but he is confident she won’t be disgraced in the Group One race.

Gotta Kiss is the forgotten horse of the Atkins as O’Dea has carefully managed her career.

The filly had her first start with a win in early October and was having her seventh run for the season when third in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1110m) at Doomben.

In all, she has had three wins and three minor placings with her only unplaced run coming in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.

While many of her rivals on Saturday had their final JJ Atkins lead-up races a fortnight ago, O’Dea elected to run her in the Bill Carter last Saturday.

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Gotta Kiss got back on the fence in the middle stakes but ran on well to be a close third.

“I wanted to see how she pulled up from the Carter before committing her to Saturday,” O’Dea said.

“She has pleased me so far so she can go around.”

Gotta Kiss’ regular rider Stephanie Thornton will again partner the filly.

Thornton can join Dianne Moseley and Marie Lyndon, who both won Doomben Cups in the 1980s, as female jockeys to win a Brisbane Group One race.