Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Smart three-year-old Public Attention (Written Tycoon) is on a path to the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) after an impressive first-up victory in the Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared son of Written Tycoon sat just off surprise leader Linebacker and forged clear of his fellow Kiwi-bred over the concluding stages to score by just over a length.
The well-related grey colt has now on two of his five starts, and previously boasted a Group Three placing behind Angel Capital in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) before finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) won by Private Life.
Racing in the familiar navy blue colours of Coolmore for a syndicate, Public Attention was bought by Tom Magnier for $160,000 from Carlaw Park’s Book 1 yearling draft at Karaka 2023.
“I've said to the Coolmore boys that he's a better physical horse this time in,” Price said.
“We were nursing a little bit of shin soreness after each run last time in, even after the Caulfield Guineas where he did have every chance, he still pulled up like an immature three-year-old.
“We did our best with him last preparation, but he's a better horse this time in and you saw the benefit of that.
“I think the second horse, now gelded, is nearly a Group One horse and I think it is going to be good form. So he goes to the Hobartville (Gr.2, 1400m), into the Randwick Guineas.”
Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Public Attention is by Written Tycoon and is the first foal out of the twice-winning Commands mare Legramor, whose dam Katie Lee made New Zealand racing history with her unprecedented double in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“If you have a look at his family, he's one of Sir Patrick Hogan's families and it's a beautiful 1600m New Zealand family, and I think he's got 1600 written all over him,” Price said.
Jockey Chad Schofield nursed the colt around the home corner at his first attempt racing clockwise and was impressed with the feel the colt gave him.
“He's stunning. I loved him since the first time I rode him at track work and then obviously I was really impressed with his two trials,” Schofield said.
“He's just a beautiful colt with a great attitude, great action. He's lovely to ride and it was great to see him do that today over a distance like that because he's only going to get better when he gets over further.
“He just jumped, put himself on the speed and dropped the bridle as well. I just love the way he flattened out down the straight and was very strong through the line.
“He wobbled a little bit around the corner the first time Sydney way, but I just waited for him to gather himself, and then he just kept lengthening really nicely, and he gave me a terrific feel.”
