‘Enormous’ trial and sharp track gallops set up Platinum Attack for winning return

An “enormous” trial and some very slick recent trackwork has trainer Lisa Latta hopeful that Platinum Attack ($3.70) can resume on a winning note in Saturday’s Pegasus at Riccarton.

The now five-year-old looked a future sprinting star when he strung together four wins in February, March and April of 2024, showing a brilliant turn of foot.

And but for a succession of wet tracks and wide draws his record of five wins from 15 starts could have been even more impressive.

“We’ve held him off, waiting for better tracks,” said Latta who has not lined up Platinum Attack for nearly seven months.

“He needs a good track and the forecast says he’ll get it on Saturday.”

Latta has trialled Platinum Attack twice in preparation for his Pegasus and Stewards tilt at the cup meeting and his latest effort, on a very wet Awapuni track on October 6, was a real eye-opener.

Taken back by rider Jonathan Riddell, the newest member of the 1000 win club, Platinum Attack produced a dazzling finish when angled wide early in the home run, roaring past Toronto to win his open 1000 metre heat by one and three-quarter lengths.

His time of 1:01.88 was nearly a second faster than Lucullan clocked in the next best open heat.

Afterwards, Riddell said Platinum Attack relaxed beautifully when he took a hold of him and that he picked up his rivals very easily.

Platinum Attack has really impressed in his latest two track gallops.Latta described the effort as “enormous” given his dislike of wet ground and said he had improved further since the trial.

That was evident on Tuesday when Platinum Attack unleashed a sharp 34.5 last 600 metres in a solo 1000 metre gallop, nine metres out on the new Awapuni course proper, an effort which clocker Ron Gurney said could not have been more impressive.

It followed another top gallop five days earlier when, working against the rail in company with stablemate Knickerless, he ran a best-of-the-morning 1000 metres in 1:01.6.

Latta resisted the temptation to run Platinum Attack at Trentham two weeks ago, to make sure he was tip top for the Riccarton trip, and says he is in the right order to make an immediate impact.

“It’s only 1000 metres on Saturday and he goes well fresh.”

Grylls on board

Platinum Attack will be ridden for the first time by Craig Grylls, Latta revealing she booked the top hoop three weeks ago when it seemed likely the horse would get only 55kg, too light for Riddell.

But nominations for the Pegasus fell well below what was expected and Platinum Attack ended up with second topweight of 57.5kg.

“The field is usually a lot stronger,” Latta said. “There’s an open sprint at Counties the same day (the $100,000 Legacy Lodge Sprint) so maybe some of the northern sprinters didn’t come down.

“From a lovely draw of two he should get a nice, economical run and we know when he gets cover, he relaxes well.

“He has an electric turn of foot and I expect to see that on Saturday. He is very well in himself and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Platinum Attack in his last win at Trentham last December when he smashed Bedtime Story in 1:07.3. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Platinum Attack was due to arrive in Christchurch at lunch time today and Latta said she was sure his experience of travelling down to the cup meeting last year would stand him in good stead.

“All going well, we will back him up the following Saturday in the Stewards (a $140,000 Listed event over 1200 metres).

Platinum Attack ran sixth in both races last year, rocketing home with the fastest splits on the first day, off a moderate pace, then racing on the pace in the Stewards, with no cover, leading 300 metres out before fading late in the soft 7 footing.

“He’s a lot stronger this time in and these two races will tell us where he’s at and where to head.”

Platinum Attack showed in no uncertain terms last season, however, that he was up to the very best, running fifth in Grail Seeker’s Telegraph, when he made an awkward start from a wide gate then lost his cover across the junction, and a close fifth in the Railway at Ellerslie, challenging late in the worst of the ground to be only a length from winner Crocetti.

Latta said Platinum Attack struck a lot of wet tracks last season but really showed what he was capable of on good footing when he blew away Bedtime Story at Trentham, bursting clear to a 1:07.3 win for the 1200 metres.

It’s a performance like that which has Latta and owners Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street excited about what’s ahead.