He was dealt a blow with the wide barrier draw through the week, but the Joe Pride-trained Attica ($4) has defied that with aplomb to take out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.
It was perfectly timed ride by jockey Adam Hyeronimus to overhaul race favourite Shangri La Boy ($3.20F) by a short neck on the line with The Pearls ($21) a further 2 1/2 lengths back in third place. Early leader and longshot Tambeloa ($201) was brave clinging on to fourth.
Remarkably, the colt by Lonhro only began his racing career at the beginning of September and has already picked up a Group 1 scalp at just his fourth race start.
Pride was in awe of his three-year-old and believes there are better things in store for the Godolphin galloper.
“Spring Champion is a very nice race, a group one, but there’s still a lot to be done with this horse,” Pride said.
“Bear in mind it’s his first preparation, the manner of that win I thought he had too much to do at the furlong.
“Chasing the favourite, but just the way he pinned his ears back and attacked the line. Two-thousand metres no problem.”
Hyeronimus, who had also piloted the runner-up to victory at his past two outings, had ridden the second horse in trackwork through the week and was wary of his ability.
“I’ve ridden the second horse and I didn’t know if Adrian (Bott) was trying to play mind games with me, but I galloped it through the week and I know how good he is going,” Hyeronimus said.
“To my horse’s credit, he was always picking him up.
“The final one hundred and fifty metres I had them covered and he was too strong late.”
Pride confirmed his charger would now be sent for a spell, with bigger fish to fry next year.
“He’ll go straight to the paddock now, he’s just a really exciting horse,” Pride said.
“It would be nice to see if we can get him a bit sharper in the autumn and aim up at races like the Randwick Guineas, but we’ll worry about all of that later on.”
