David Pfieffer makes spring statement with dominant winner Atmospherical at Flemington

TRAINER David Pfieffer made a statement with his Cup week winner when Atmospherical won the Listed $150,000 Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

There can be no greater advertisement for an emerging trainer than to win on racing’s biggest stage and Atmospherical’s Oaks Day triumph was a tremendous result for his business.

Pfieffer had wanted to bring Atmospherical down earlier in the spring but wanted to ensure the mare was back to her best. A dominant win at Rosehill two weeks ago convinced Pfieffer to roll the dice and target this race.

“She’s always been a handy filly and she seems to be getting better with age,” Pfieffer said.

“It was a bit of a query with her racing down the straight for the first time and coming to a new state but she acquitted herself and James (McDonald) rode her perfectly, she looked the winner a long way out.“She really seems to love a hot tempo and I love the way she keeps improving for us.“She’s got a great pedigree and a great group of owners are involved.”McDonald had Atmospherical positioned just behind the speed in the early stages then angled around the heels of the leaders and she let down very impressively to record her sixth win from just 10 starts.The win also gave McDonald a double for the day and his fourth win during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

“She’s a lovely mare, she relaxed well and the first time up the straight was no problem for her,” he said.

“In the run there was only one spot I was going to get and that was behind the leading bunch, I had to wait for a gap to push her out but when she did she went quick.

“She was brilliant today, I think there are more stakes wins in her.”