24K magic as Bruno unleashes Platinum Attack at Otaki like a rocket to Mars

Part-owner Neville McAlister isn’t surprised that Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz has clicked so well with Platinum Attack, dashing winner at Otaki on Saturday.

Bruno Queiroz … perfect ride on Platinum Attack.Queiroz rode the perfect race on Platinum Attack, finding cover, switching him off, and unleashing in the home straight to score a decisive win.

“He swooped on them and in a couple of big bounds the City Of Napier Sprint is all over,” declared commentator Bruce Sherwin, describing it as a defining day, an A grade win in a hot field.

It credited Queiroz with back-to-back Listed wins on the five-year-old, a credit to the 24-year-old who, McAlister says, spends hours and hours watching race replays.

“He does a lot of homework and knows everything about his rides - he just checks that we agree with what he thinks.”

Queiroz told McAlister that he had tried to copy the tactics employed by Jonathan Riddell who was on Platinum Attack when he scored his previous most impressive win, exploding home to win at Trentham in December, 2024.

“He did everything perfectly - he let him run early and wasn’t on his mouth, hauling him back. You need to be going forward, looking for a spot with him, instead of being really negative and giving him too much work to do. It’s no good if you’re last and fly home with a great run but get no reward.”

Queiroz points to Platinum Attack in a Jmac moment.Queiroz might have done his job to a nicety but when he rocketed to an unassailable lead, the jockey released his grip on the right rein and pointed to the horse’s head in a Jmac moment meaning ‘it’s all down to him’.

But Queiroz, the son of Brazilian jockey Antonio Queiroz, is no doubt on his way to much bigger things.

Credited with being the fastest rider in the world to reach 1000 wins, McAlister says Queiroz’s sole ambition is to be the best and gain a permit to ride in Hong Kong where his godfather Joao Moreira made his name as one of the world’s best jockeys.

Queiroz, who pipped champion rider Manoel Nunes in the final jockeys’ premiership in Singapore, now lies third on the Kiwi premiership with 63 wins, behind Craig Grylls and Samantha Collett, and has ridden 87 all-up since arriving here in May last year.

Platinum Attack’s CV is also looking much more flush after his latest two starts boosted his career stats for McAlister and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street to eight wins and $446,285. More than half of that has come this season, with $243,051 from three wins and two placings in eight starts.

The only times he was out of the money was in the big three Group I sprints, the Telegraph (sixth), Railway (fifth) and BCD Sprint (sixth).

But as he goes into winter quarters, McAlister is already planning a new path for Platinum Attack to try to address that missing gong.

Bruno Queiroz eases up on Platinum Attack and blows a kiss to the crowd after his dazzling home stretch burst. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Instead of trekking to Christchurch for his now traditional Pegasus-Stewards double, trainer Lisa Latta will set the horse for the first Group I race of the new season - the Proisir Plate (formerly Tarzino Trophy), a weight-for-age 1400 metres at Hastings.

Platinum Attack is so far unproven at 1400 metres but it is a trip Latta is keen to conquer.

“September can be wet and we might end up not running but we’ll start with Hawkes Bay and see how we go,” McAlister said. It was unlikely the horse would then drop back from 1400 metres to the 1000m-1200m double at Riccarton in November, he said.

McAlister says he’s keen to try Platinum Attack in Australia but tacking on a Brisbane campaign now would be foolhardy.

“He’s been in work a long time and if you take a tired horse you’d only be disappointed with the results.

“We haven’t even looked at Australia yet but I’m sure we could find a weaker option somewhere.”

Platinum Tyche is pipped a slender nose by Mulan Ardeche.McAlister, enjoying his best season yet with 14 wins, including four black type scalps, already has smart three-year-olds Platinum Pantheon and Platinum Diamond aimed at Brisbane with test runs at Te Rapa on Anzac Day to confirm the trip.

• Only the bob of the head saw McAlister, Lincoln Farms and Queiroz miss out on a double at Otaki when a desperately close photo finish went against Platinum Tyche two races earlier.