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Hall of Fame - Atlas
Original article written by A.R. Roberts posted 15 years 1 week agoAtlas Takes His Rightful Seat
The story of this legend of the SIM starts with his owner/breeder Ara Davies decision to breed her European Horse of the Year, Banner, to her newly retired American Horse of the Year, Conduit. In doing what would seem to be a logical move, what else could Ms. Davies expect but a mighty horse. Throughout his career, Atlas amassed a resume like no other. Among his list of accomplishments are 8 Simmy Awards, 12 Grade 1 victories, as well as finishing his career undefeated in 18 starts (13 on turf, 5 on dirt). In those 18 victories he beat such race giants as Faith Justified, Horse of the Year Jet Ski, Hall of Famer Loki Dynasty, Aussie 3 year old Champion Resonance, the legendary Saga, and Two Year Old European Champion Storm of Applause.
The sire of Atlas was a resplendently horse in his own right. Conduit was, as his son, undefeated over both dirt and turf. He sired such champions of the SIM, such as Feature Attraction, Fog City, Le Dauphin Noir, Loki Dynasty, Tejano Tribute, and Vendetta, who all earned over $3 million in earnings along with Atlas (who holds the SIM record for earnings with $12, 763,200. A record that may not be broken, especially is Ms. Davies has anything to say about it.)
On his female side, his dam Banner was the European Horse of the Year, European Champion Older Mare, as well as overall Champion Three Year Old Filly. She laws out of the top 3 only once in her nonpareil career, a dignified 4th in the Steward Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She was a winner from 5 furlongs up to 12 furlongs. Of her eleven foals, all have won, all are stake winners, and 8 are millionaires. In her second career, she continued her champion ways, earning the title of Broodmare of the Year in Year 14.
His second dam, War Song, was proficient on both turf and dirt, just as Atlas. She won Grade 1’s on the turf (Yellow Ribbon Stakes) as well as on the dirt (Coaching Club American Oaks). She just like Banner produced winners out of all her foals, all 9. Of these 5 went on to become millionaires and 8 of the 9 were stake winners.
The Race Record of Atlas is one that is just jaw dropping. His initial start was at 5 furlongs at Austrailia Race Course in a Maiden Special Weight event. In his next start, he jumped up into Grade 1 competition and did not let his proud owner down. He dominated the 6 furlong Blue Diamond Stakes by an amazing 14 lengths. His third start of his 2 year old year saw him continue his dominance in the Grade 1 Golden Slipper Stakes. Atlas stayed in Australia for his last start of his two year old campaign, winning the Grade 3 Sire’s Produce Stakes. He closed the year 4 for 4, all on turf, earning $733,200 for his connections along with his first of eight Simmy Awards as 2 Year Old Australian Champion.
His 3 year old year campaign saw Atlas stay in Australia for 5 more wins. Atlas took down 2 more Grade 1 wins that year, The Australia Cup and the AJC Australian Derby, as well as taking down the Caufield Cup and the million dollar Cox Plate.
As a 4 year old, Atlas would leave the cozy confines of Australia after winning his first start of the year, the 1 mile Doncaster Handicap (his shortest race since his 2 year old year). Atlas traveled to Dubai to take on a multitude of tests in his second start of the year. Faced with the challenge of his first race away from home, as well as on a new surface, Atlas won the Desert World Cup over his owners best dirt horse at the time Jet Ski. This not only put Atlas on the SIM Nation map, but also was his favorite race he ran by his owner. Ms. Davies when asked about this, had this to say; “My favorite race of his was definitely the Desert World Cup for two reasons. The first was that it was his first start on dirt and you know how I love multisurface horses! The second was that it was a matchup between my two best - and two of the SIM's best - horses in training. Honestly I never really cared that it was the DWC; I would have been as happy if they had been running together in a dirt allowance! I never told Jet, but I really did want Atlas to win the race.” Atlas closed out Year 14 by returning to Australia and winning two more Grade 1 races, The Sydney and Melbourne Cup, before leaving the continent to take on the best turf horses in the Steward Cup at Long Island Park. He won the Stewards Cup race by a hard fought head. In doing so, he earned himself Champion Turf Horse honors, alongside Australian Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year honors.
Atlas last year of racing was done all on dirt, and he did not let any of his fans down. Atlas took down three Grade 1’s, concluding with a victory in the Stewards Cup Classic. In doing so, he finally took Horse of the Year honors along with Overall Champion Older Male. Again in speaking to Ms. Davies; “Besides Jet-Ski, his toughest competition came all at once in the Year 15 Steward's Cup Classic! He faced - and beat - Louisville Derby winners Loki Dynasty and Saga, that year's Desert World Cup winner Chinese Bandit, and Long Island Classic winner Bebravedon'tcry, among others. That SC Classic was probably the most insane ever run in the SIM. And note that Atlas, primarily a turf horse, beat all of those horses on DIRT. Have I mentioned how much I love multisurface horses?”
When looking at Atlas, you are clearly able to see what might have been arguably the most dominant horse ever to run in the SIM. It is only fitting to give the last words regarding Atlas to his biggest fan, and owner; “Atlas, Loki Dynasty, Saga, Chinese Bandit...these horses (and others like them) were really a perfect close to the old SIM. Their SC Classic was the last hurrah before the SIM closed so in my head they're really tied up with the emotions we all felt at that time. So to me, Atlas is a perfect representation of how I feel about the SIM and what it's meant to me for all these years. His legacy IS the SIM, in a way. And he's the SIM's legacy!”