Trainer Joe Pride is prioritizing the learning experience for Godolphin gelding Attica in this weekend’s Golden Eagle, rather than solely focusing on the $5.25 million first prize.
Pride’s coaching philosophy centres on equipping Attica with the essential foundations to develop into the best racehorse he can possibly become over the long term.
Although Attica achieved Group 1 success at the age of three, Pride believes the colt is still in a developmental phase, with his current racing preparation aimed at building necessary experience and maturity.
“As I’ve kept saying with him, he’s a work in progress,” Pride stated. “I know he’s a Group One winner early in his life and people just expected him to stay there. But he beat up on a bunch of spring three-year-olds then, and it’s taking him every bit of this time we’re giving him to get to where he’s eventually going to get to, which I think is going to be a Group One horse again.”
Gelded after a somewhat inconsistent autumn period, Attica has consistently performed competitively in his four starts this spring, with the exception being the Epsom Handicap (1600m) where he raced keenly and tired.
He showed a return to form with a close sixth in the Silver Eagle (1300m) behind Apocalyptic. While Pride doesn’t expect Attica to trouble the short-priced favourite Sheza Alibi in Saturday’s Golden Eagle (1500m), he is confident the horse will run well.
“The Epsom, it went wrong. The other day, he ran really well. He was beaten a length-and-a-half, and he carried the full penalty for being a Group One winner,” Pride explained. “It’s not an easy assignment on Saturday, but you don’t get many chances to run for this kind of prizemoney. I feel like he’s spot-on.
“From the draw, I’d love to think he’ll be running fourth, fifth, sixth, and if he gets that trail, puts his head down, settles, I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t first five in the race.”
Attica is currently a $34 outsider in the pre-post markets. The only other runner quoted in single figures is Chris Waller’s Beiwacht at $7, with the $1.70 favourite Sheza Alibi dominating the market.
Sheza Alibi is dropping significantly in distance from her second place in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m). Pride acknowledges the mare’s unconventional preparation but places his trust in Peter Moody’s expertise.
“It’s an unconventional preparation, but I’m not second guessing Peter. He’s a master trainer,” he remarked.
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