Finally a draw and Attack has flying Aussie Ben Thompson to get him across the line

Platinum Attack ($7.50) will have in-demand Aussie hoop Ben Thompson in the saddle for his tilt at Saturday’s $250,000 Haunui Farm King’s Plate at Ellerslie.

And, freshened nicely, and against easier opposition than he’s been tackling, trainer Lisa Latta sees no reason why he won’t be right in the fight.

“He had 10 days out in the paddock after the BCD Sprint at Waikato and has freshened up nicely,” Latta said.

“He is certainly well in himself. He had a decent hit-out right-handed on the Awapuni course proper on Saturday and then did his final piece of fast work on Tuesday morning, which I was very happy with.”

Working solo and the Ellerslie way again, Platinum Attack ran the fastest 1000 metres of the morning in 1:04.5, with the last 600 in 36.5.

Best of all, Platinum Attack has finally landed a good draw of four, from where Latta says Thompson can hopefully secure the one-one possie.

“There looks to be good speed in the race with Alabama Lass, who will likely lead, so landing not too far off her will be essential to give ourselves a winning chance.

“Providing he gets the right run, there’s no reason he cannot be right in it.”

Platinum Attack’s connections, from left, John Street, trainer Lisa Latta and Neville McAlister.Thompson is certainly in the right form to get the best out of Platinum Attack who is raced by Neville McAlister and long-time Lincoln Farms’ partners John and Lynne Street.

The Brisbane jockey, who has 889 wins to his name, made headlines in January, winning the $1 million Karaka Millions Two-Year-Old on Dream Roca.

And when returning to Ellerslie on February 21 he rode another perfectly timed finish to score on Bellarista, ironically in the colours of Haunui Farm, the sponsor of Saturday’s King’s Plate.

Latta rightly points out that the King’s Plate line-up is not as strong as the fields Platinum Attack has faced this summer.

After two lead-up races, when he won the Pegasus at Riccarton and was narrowly beaten in the Levin Stakes at Otaki, Platinum has performed with credit in the three big Group I races:

• He closed within 4.3 lengths of First Five in the Telegraph at Trentham, starting form the impossible outside barrier of 15
• He ran fifth from gate seven in the Railway at Ellerslie for the second successive year, 4.7 lengths behind Australian Jigsaw and
• He was only 3.8 lengths behind First Five when sixth in the BCD Sprint at Te Rapa, over an unsuitable 1400 metres from barrier eight.

That form reads well alongside his opposition, the best of which looks to be Railway third placegetter Sweynesday ($3 fav) and disappointing Railway favourite Alabama Lass ($3.20) who stopped to seventh. Alabama Lass, winner of last year’s King’s Plate, has since trialled stylishly at Taupo.

The unknown quantity is Australian invader Cote Atlantique ($6.50) who shares the 56kg topweight with Yaldi.

The former Irish Group III winner, now with Henry Dwyer, has not raced for four and a half months. In five starts in Australia his best performance was a win in the Listed Seymour Cup at 1600 metres.

Dwyer: “He’s probably a mile to 1800 metre horse, but he’s nice and fresh and can run a race over six furlongs.”