Atomic Force, the 5-year-old gelding who exploded away in the last hundred metres to take the $100,000 Maurice McCarten (1000m) which wound up the opening day of the autumn carnival at Rosehill Gardens, is bred on a New South Wales sire cross but flies the flag for Queensland breeders and yearling preparers.

Bred by G. I. and K.E. Warfield, Darling Downs and prepared and marketed at the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast by Basil Nolan’s Raheen stud, Gladfield, Warwick, selling to Dynamic Syndications for $50,000, Atomic Force is by Choisir’s sire Danehill Dancer and from Show of Force, a Luskin Star mare who was a luckless 2-year-old.

At this age in Sydney she won twice, finished second in the Sweet Embrace, third in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, Magic Night Stakes and AJC Kindergarten Stakes and fourth in the AJC Champagne Stakes.

So far she has produced twelve foals for nine runners and five winners. Atomic Force has been the only stakes winner, but Sir Octavius, a half-brother by Octagonal, won five races in Hong Kong.

Show of Force currently has a yearling filly by Lyndhurst stud’s booming Danehill sire Hidden Dragon and was served by him last season.The foal is a three-quarter sister to Atomic Force.

Bred by the Kelly’s Newhaven Park stud, Show of Force is from Reinforce, a half-sister to Encounter, winner of 11 races, including the MRC Caulfield Guineas, Futurity Stakes, AJC Champagne Stakes, Sires’ Produce Stakes, George Main Stakes and the Chipping Norton.

A son of 1991 Golden Slipper winner Tierce, he was beaten a nose by Guineas when runner up in the event in 1997.

Success in Saturday’s McCarten took the Darren Smith Newcastle trained Atomic Force’s record to 25 starts, seven wins and four each seconds and thirds.

He had not previously won a stakes, but had been third in the San Domenico at Rosehill Gardens first up at three and more recently similarly placed in the $200,000 Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast.

Picture: Sportpix