Joe Pride couldn’t be happier with Attica’s form heading into Saturday’s $2 million Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick, though he admits the barrier draw has given him something to think about. The exciting Godolphin colt has come up with gate 13, likely to move into 12 should the emergency Pinot Nero not take its place.
Fresh from his brilliant last-to-first victory in the Dulcify Stakes (1600m), Attica will be stepping up to 2000m for the first time in the Group 1 feature. Pride says tactics are still up in the air for himself and jockey Adam Hyeronimus. “The horse is great, I’m very happy with him,” Pride said. “It’s not the best barrier, is it? (It’s a) tricky start. It’s just getting the ride right and I think this is probably a classic case of why they shouldn’t have change of tactics rules, to be honest.”
Attica has two wins and a second from just three starts and had been the pre-draw favourite before Shangri La Boy replaced him at the top of the market after drawing barrier two. Pride, however, remains confident his colt has the quality to overcome the wide alley.
The Randwick trainer also spoke glowingly of his growing partnership with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation. “They’ve been really good, I keep them across what’s going on, they’ve got some really good minds in that business behind the scenes and we lean on them, so it’s been good,” he said. “It’s great support from one of the biggest owners in the world. I’m very happy with it, it’s going well so far, we’ve been handed some handy horses and getting some good results with them, which is good.”
By Lonhro from Savatiano, Attica boasts top-class bloodlines and will look to follow the path of stablemate El Castello, who won the race last year. El Castello also runs on Saturday, tackling the Craven Plate (1800m) after midfield finishes in both the Epsom and King Charles III Stakes.
“I’m turning him around quick, which I’m hoping will bring out something a bit better in him than what he’s been doing and I took the blinkers off because Adam (Hyeronimus) thought he went a bit hard in them the other day,” Pride said.
Chad Schofield will take over the ride on El Castello, jumping from barrier one in a field of eight. Punters can follow both Pride runners and compare odds for the feature at Australia’s top betting sites.
