Joe Pride reckons the preliminary markets are mistaken, billing the Randwick Guineas as a battle solely between Attica, his Group One winner, and Autumn Boy from the Caulfield Guineas.

They posted near-identical displays in the first-up Hobartville Stakes (1400m), holding back before peeling off, Autumn Boy going the long way around for second to Ninja and Attica slotting through internally for fourth.

Post Wednesday’s declarations, Attica’s assignment to the wide gate saw his odds blow out to $10 by bookmakers, as Autumn Boy under Chris Waller held $2.50 supremacy, ahead of Sheza Alibi at $2.60 for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

“I can’t line Peter Moody’s filly up, and that’s not to say she’s not a chance. I’m just struggling to line her up,” Pride said.

“But I would have thought Autumn Boy or Attica will be winning the Randwick Guineas.

“I think my boy will, but I’m not going to take Chris’ horse for granted because he is a good colt.”

Having won the Dulcify Stakes over the Randwick mile suited to the Guineas on path to the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), Attica is battle-tested there.

Pride is pleased with the Godolphin colt at each stage of training, stressing that avoiding disruptions is fundamental to Group 1 conquests.

“It has all gone exactly to the script I have wanted it to, and generally when you look back and you’ve won a Group One, you look back at the preparation and go, ‘well it just all went to plan, didn’t it,'” Pride said.

“We’re not there yet, but that’s the way it has felt this preparation.

“Every step of the way he has met the markers I have wanted him to be at, and that makes his job easier because it’s uninterrupted.”

Pride wished for improved luck in the draw, yet Attica faces a field of nine total in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), with Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy in neighboring barriers two and three.

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