Blinkers do the trick for Platinum Assault at Waverley - and he’ll back up next week

Platinum Assault might have taken a little longer to find the winner’s circle than expected but his all-the-way win at Waverley today showed he’s well on his way now.

Ridden hard to lead from a wide gate, Platinum Assault responded bravely when challenged in the stretch to score by a head, giving trainer Lisa Latta and Lincoln Farms a notable double after Lincoln Rocks’ win in the opening race.

It was Platinum Assault’s first time in blinkers, a tactic which obviously switched on the five-time placegetter, said co-owner Neville McAlister.

“He sweated up more than usual and was fired up and pulled hard in the running,” McAlister said.

The original plan was to send Platinum Assault straight to the paddock but McAlister said after a comment by rider Lisa Allpress today it had been decided to try him one more time over a shorter distance.

Lisa Allpress brings Platinum Assault back to scale. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.“Lisa thinks we might be going too far with him, so we’re going to bring him back in distance from 1400 metres to 1100 metres next Friday to see if he’s more of a sprinter. That will give us a better idea what to do with him next prep.”

McAlister said he expected Platinum Assault to improve further next time in.

“We thought he’d run as a late two-year-old-early three year-old but he’s taken a bit of time. He has strengthened up a bit and is heading in the right direction but he’s still a bit babyish.”

Platinum Assault, whom McAlister races with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, cost A$60,000 at the Adelaide yearling sale in 2020.

He is from the first southern hemisphere crop of Sir Prancealot, who was champion first season sire in the UK and Europe.

His 32 two-year-old winners that season gave him a 70% winners-to-runners ratio and saw him outshine headliners Helmet and Frankel.

But what McAlister liked most about the yearling was that 24% of Sir Prancealot’s stakes winners came when crossed with Danehill blood. Platinum Assault is out of the two-race winner Abdaan, whose sire Not A Single Doubt is a grandson of Danehill.

Platinum Assault’s half brother Kentucky Casanova is looking quite promising in Victoria having won three of his seven starts.

Sir Prancealot shuttles between Rancho San Miguel in California and Cornerstone Stud in South Australia.