The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Public Attention is heading to New Zealand for a rich slot race.
Public Attention will run in the Ozzie Kheir slot in the The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8, ruling him out of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on the same day, joining Evaporate from the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes.
Price finally relented after having his sights set on the Guineas with the three-year-old.
Public Attention has raced in Sydney this campaign, winning first-up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick on February 8 before a last start fourth to Broadsiding in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) last Saturday.
The colt was bred in New Zealand and after a conversation with Tom Magnier from Coolmore Stud, the decision was made to switch targets.
“Tom Magnier rang me and said there was a number of factors that influenced them to go,” Price told RSN.
“He’s got a very New Zealand pedigree. He’s a son of Written Tycoon, he’s won a Stakes race over 1200 (metres). He’s in good form, he’s a magnificent type of horse, and there have been a few studs over there that have shown some interest in him.
“It’s fantastic prize money, it’s a three-year-old race, as is the Randwick Guineas, 1500 metres at Ellerslie, and he would probably start second or third pick, and the Randwick Guineas is probably a bit tougher.
“I think it’s a good idea and if he does win, a good Kiwi stud might put their hand up for him and get themselves a nice horse.”
Price said Public Attention drew wide in the Hobartville Stakes last week and ran out of ‘gas’ in the final 100m after racing forward.
“He grabbed the bridle a bit in the blinkers and put himself up there, and when you’re in that cart up spot, it’s never any good,” Price said.
“I thought halfway through the race that this would gas him out second-up, and sure enough he got gassed in the last 100 metres.”
Public Attention heads to New Zealand on Sunday and will be stabled at the Cambridge Stud training facility with Wiremu Pinn booked for the ride.
“I had a good association with Wiremu when he was in Australia,” Price said.
