Lisa: It’s a hot field but Platinum Attack’s not out of it - and the $23 odds are very tasty

Trainer Lisa Latta is expecting Platinum Attack to run a lot better than his odds of $23 suggest despite tackling one of the hottest sprint fields in years at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The $500,000 BCD Group Sprint features topliners from here and across the Tasman, with experienced older speedsters, boom four-year-old Grail Seeker and even champion three-year-old Savaglee in the mix.

But even with only 12 starts under his belt, Latta believes Platinum Attack can surprise with a big showing.

“He is more than capable of running a big race. His run was huge last time on an off track, which we know he doesn’t like.”

In soft 5 conditions at Ellerslie, Platinum Attack turned in one of the best runs in the Railway, powering home for fifth, just a short head, long head, half a length and a head from winner Crocetti.

Under gloomy skies, hence the dark image, Platinum Attack recorded the second fastest closing sectionals in the Railway.Platinum Attack, inner, stakes his late claim in the Railway.Only sixth-placed Waitak bettered his closing sectionals from the 800, 600 and 200 as he rocketed home under Matt Cartwright in 44.89, 33.63 and 11.63.

The run franked his previous start, in the Telegraph at Trentham, when despite the soft 7 ground and an awkward start, he again finished well for fifth.

The four-year-old, raced by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and Neville McAlister, steps up to 1400 metres for the first time on Saturday but, as Latta says, “he is ready for it now.”

“He is going to get a nice economical run from three and he shouldn’t be too far from the leaders as they turn for home.”

Latta reports Platinum Attack has bounced through the Railway in “superb” order - “He couldn’t be looking any better.”

Good forecast

Best of all, the forecast looks kind for the next few days, Te Rapa a soft 5 on Thursday morning, promising to give Platinum Attack his first good track since he exploded clear to win at Trentham in 1:07.3.

Te Rapa can be a tricky surface for some horses to adapt to but at least Platinum Attack has had experience there - at the start of his preparation last October he ran sixth, 2.2 lengths behind Shoes, after losing ground when crowded at the start.

Jonathan Riddell, who has ridden Platinum Attack in four of his five wins, is back on board on Saturday.

Under the weight-for-age scale of the BCD Sprint, Platinum Attack has to carry 59kg, 4kg more than at Ellerslie, but the big horse managed 58.5kg under similar conditions at Trentham.

Here To Shock comes across the Tasman in peak form. PHOTO: Racing Photos.Bookies have Tarzino and Telegraph winner Grail Seeker favourite at $2.50, with last-start Levin Classic winner Savaglee at $4.20 and the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Here To Shock at $5.50.

The seven-year-old winner of 12 races won the A$1 million Supernova at Pakenham at his last start at the same trip as the BCD Sprint.

Also coming with outstanding last-start credentials at 1400 metres is the other Australian galloper, Annabel Neasham’s hulking three-year-old Bosustow, who claimed the A$3 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast last month.