No champion is easily deterred, and Tron Bolt, guided by the exceptional riding skills of James McDonald, proved this point by clinching victory in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm. This monumental win also saw McDonald eclipse Malcolm Johnston’s long-standing record for the most group one winners in a single Australian season.
McDonald’s tally of 141 group one winners places him in elite company, and achieving 17 victories in the 2025/26 season establishes a new all-time record.
“I feel very humbled and privileged to be in this position,” McDonald stated. “To ride horses like that who give me great rides, I thought he was exceptional today. It is nice to stand alone.”
The Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt ($1.80 favourite) demonstrated grit, pushing back the challenge from Cormier ($11), ridden by Aaron Bullock, to win by a length. Waller’s other contender, Stormy Marco ($14), secured the third position.
“You’d think that James McDonald would hand up just one group one, wouldn’t you,” Bullock commented humorously after the race.
This success marks the fourth occasion the Waller stable has claimed the JJ Atkins, following victories by Pressday in 2010, Press Statement in 2015, and The Autumn Sun in 2018.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is now being considered as a principal spring target for Tron Bolt.
“With (stud) values, you always try and win something shorter like a Golden Rose at our home track,” Waller added. “We try and use the Golden Rose as a steppingstone to either a Coolmore Stud Stakes up the (Flemington) straight, but for this horse’s example it would be more a Caulfield Guineas.”
McDonald, who also captured the Atkins aboard Broadsiding in 2024, offered his perspective on the distinctions between the two colts.
“Broadsiding was a bit spunkier,” McDonald recalled. “He was the real deal. This one, he’s a bit sleepy but he’s alive when you really want him to and that is the great thing about this horse. You can put him to sleep. He does what he needs to do and he’ll wake up.
“A little bit chalk and cheese but he’ll reach great heights, this horse. A bit of furnishing to do but he’ll come on immensely. He’s very adaptable and he’s got a bright future.”
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