J.J. Atkins

Race Overview

Widely regarded as the premier race in Queensland for 2YOs, the Group 1 J.J. Atkins is a set weights race run over 1600m at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

With total prizemoney of $1 million, the race is one of the most lucrative races in the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

The Brisbane Racing Club race was first run in 1893 and was won by Common when the race was named the Claret Stakes.

It assumed a series of sponsors names from 1976 through to 1998 before being renamed The T.J. Smith in 1999 after legendary trainer T.J. Smith.

It later became the J.J. Atkins in 2013 in honour of prolific-winning Queensland trainer Jim Atkins who won the Brisbane Premiership four times and won every major staying race in Brisbane with the exception of the Oaks.

The race was a Principal Race in 1893 before becoming a Group 2 race in 1980 and finally a Group 1 race in 1985.

The distance of the race has changed several times over the years and was originally a 1200m race from 1893-1904 before rising to 1400m from 1905-1954 and finally becoming a 1600m race in 1955.

Historically, it’s not common to see 2YOs horses racing at this distance and the Champagne Stakes at Randwick in Sydney is the only other Group 1 2YO race at 1600m.

Held almost exclusively at Eagle Farm, the race was held three times at Doomben in 2015, 2017 and 2018 due to track reconstruction works at Eagle Farm.

There were 2 winners in 1954, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 when the race was run in divisions.

Notable previous winners include Luskin Star (1977), Mahogany (1993), Freemason (1999), Darci Brahma (2005) and The Autumn Sun (2018).

Press Statement hit the headlines with a newsworthy win in 2015.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Converge won the race in 2021 while the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sheeza Belter saluted in 2022.