Trainer Gary Subratie may not want to count his lucky star so soon, but after
Atomica’s emphatic victory in the The Viceroy Trophy on Easter Monday, April 1, he is backing his chestnut mare to not only win a third-consecutive Horse of the Year title but also the ultra-rich Mouttet Mile.

Atomica swept all before her in an explosive run to win the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over one mile by an impressive 15 ½ lengths margin. Ridden by Omar Walker for owner Oakridge Farms, Atomica (Nuclear Wayne Honkeytonkville) ran the distance in a smooth 1:39.2 (23.2 x 45.2 x 1:11.1).

Is That A Fact finished in second place, Green Gold Rush third, with Rough Entry completing the frame in the four-horse field.

It was sweet revenge for Atomica, as she was previously beaten by Is That A Fact in the Chairman’s Trophy over seven and a half lengths by two lengths. Last year’s Mouttet Mile winner, Rough Entry, finished in third place in that race.

“I saw what had happened in the Chairman’s Trophy. I was comfortable when I saw that Omar [Walker] wasn’t doing anything aboard her. She kicked on in the straight and won. I want her to win the Horse of the Year again and the Mouttet Mile in December,” Subratie said.

“Her preparation coming into this race was the same as usual. Same training programme, as we didn’t change much with her. We know her; we understand her, and Omar rode an excellent race.

“We had decided we weren’t going to allow anybody on the headline, and so we were just going to go out there, and if we stop, we stop. I know that those two horses [
Is That A Fact and Rough Entry] can’t outstay her. The plan was to go, and what happens just happens,” a confident Subratie said in his post-race interview.

Atomica broke well when the gates opened in second place behind Rough Entry, ridden by the visiting Reyluis Gutierrez.

Atomica was then challenged by Is That Fact, but that was for a brief moment as the chestnut mare upped the tempo and increased her lead while navigating the half-mile (800m) turn.

Turning for home with no challengers coming forward, Atomica pulled away to win with maximum ease.