Draw no barrier for underrated Attica in Guineas: Pride
By Craig Kerry
Joe Pride admits the jury is out on whether Attica will peak at the mile or over further this autumn, but he is certain the Godolphin colt at least deserves more respect in the group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
The group 1 Spring Champion Stakes winner over 2000m in the spring, Attica made an eye-catching return in the group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21, coming from last to surge through a gap late and finish fourth. He was a half-length behind third-placed Autumn Boy, which also came from well back, as Ninja controlled the race up front.
Adam Hyeronimus riding Attica to victory in the Dulcify Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
Up to the mile, Autumn Boy, the group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner, opened as a $2.30 TAB favourite for the Randwick Guineas and was $2.90 on Thursday with gate three. Exciting Victorian filly Sheza Alibi, with gate four, had climbed to $2.50 favouritism. Attica, after drawing nine of nine, drifted from $8 to $9.50.
Pride was surprised with the price difference for Attica, which easily won the listed Dulcify over the Randwick mile before his remarkable run from near-last to take out the Spring Champion.
“At the Randwick mile, the barrier is a little bit overstated,” Pride said.
“It looked like the market reacted, though. At one stage he was $10 and Autumn Boy was $2.50.
“Trainers probably shouldn’t get asked about prices. We’re not bookies, we’re not form assessors, but I don’t know. That big a discrepancy between those two horses off their last runs? I wouldn’t have thought so.
“He was really good. It was a slow-run race there that day and he got home good.”
Pride conceded a lack of early speed in the field could be against Attica on Saturday, but he said jockey Adam Hyeronimus would be sticking to their proven strategy.
“From that barrier draw, he’s going to be in the second half of the field, but he’s won doing that. That’s his pattern, so far anyway,” he said.
“He can’t seem to draw a barrier, and I don’t know that I want to be upsetting that on Saturday and trying something I’ve never done with him before.
“Maybe a few others might have ideas about going forward and making a bit of a genuine race, but we’ll see.
“It’s a nine-horse field and it might be less by race day. He’s got the big Randwick straight to warm up. He’s had two runs there and won both times.
“He’s had three trials, the run back, and I just feel he’s had the right prep to be at, I wouldn’t say his absolute peak on Saturday, but getting close. He’s ready to run a mighty race.”
Pride hopes Attica can fire at the mile to put himself on course for the $4 million Doncaster on April 4.
“I want him to be mile and below, but he is what he is,” he said.
“We’ll get a clue on Saturday. He’s being left on the fresh side to keep some speed in his legs, and if he only grinds it out Saturday, he’s probably on his way to the Rosehill Guineas [2000m]. If he’s sharp, he’s on his way to the Doncaster.”
After the loss of Ceolwulf for the autumn because of feet problems this week, Attica will carry Pride’s major race chances in the Sydney carnival. However, he also hopes to have Headley Grange, which resumes in the group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on Saturday, ready for the Doncaster.
On Saturday, he also has In Flight, Mazu and The Black Cloud in the group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).
“They seem good,” he said.
“That’s a bit of a hard race to get a handle on. There’s form lines coming from everywhere. My three horses could all end up in The Galaxy, but I would like them to have a run before then and this is that run.”