Opie gives Platinum Attack a big Group One tick after blazing sectionals at Ellerslie

If Platinum Attack’s electric sectionals weren’t enough, the man on his back at Ellerslie on Saturday gave his connections plenty of hope that he can win a Group I race.

After picking up his Sweynesse Stakes rivals with a lightning turn of foot from the rear, champion jockey Opie Bosson, winner of 100 Group I races, declared the six-year-old capable of winning at the elite level.

“Yes, I think he could be a chance in a race like the Railway. I’ve only had one ride on him but he gave me a really good feel and he had plenty left, he wanted to keep going after the line.”

Bosson said Platinum Attack was “no Imperatriz”, the winner of 10 Group I races, “but he’s a nice, big horse and if you get him into a rhythm, he shows you a great turn of foot.

“He settled quite a long way back but it wasn’t a big field and he was travelling comfortably. And when I first came to the outside he’s gone to pick them up really quickly.”

Incredibly, despite Platinum Attack being eased down at the line by Bosson, one and a half lengths clear, he recorded the fastest closing 200 metres at the redesigned Ellerslie track of 11.22 seconds, hitting a speed of 69.19 km/hr.

Josh Herd leads Platinum Attack and Opie Bosson at Ellerslie. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.And his closing sectionals over the last 800, 600, 400 and 200 metres, were faster than the last two winners of the Railway.

Platinum Attack ran 44.45, 33.01, 21.84 and 11.22, some of the fastest splits ever recorded at Ellerslie, compared with 2026 winner Jigsaw who clocked 45.71, 34.57, 23.37 and 12.06 and 2025 winner Crocetti who was timed at 45.06, 33.73, 22.56 and 11.76.

The fastest closers in those two Group Ones didn’t even match Platinum Attack, sixth-placed Waitaki clocking 44.65, 33.4, 22.32 and 11.44 in 2025 and Sweynesday running 45.39, 34.26, 23.19 and 11.85 when third earlier this year.

All three races were run in slow 5 conditions and Platinum Attack’s 1:10.65 effort was all the more meritorious given he ran 1215 metres, whereas the Railway is run at 1200 metres.

A search of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s stats found only one horse running a faster top speed than Platinum Attack, Crocetti hitting 69.59km/hr between the 800 and 600 when last in this year’s Railway.

Crocetti’s fastest speed in his 2025 Railway win was 68.6km/hr recorded between the 600 and 400, while Jigsaw hit 68km/hr, running 11.14 between the 800 and 600.

Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, who race Platinum Attack with Neville McAlister from Lisa Latta’s Awapuni stable, knew their horse was capable of running such swift times.

“Lisa always said he had that kind of speed,” John Street said. “He just needs cover or he goes too hard early. He got that on Saturday and while he settled third last, he ended up winning very easily.

“He hadn’t raised a sweat when he came back to the birdcage. He could have gone round again.”

Platinum Attack strides clear of Reward Smile and Jaarffi, inner. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Street said the way the horse finished suggested that 1400 metres wouldn’t be beyond him now that he’s older and stronger.

“But I’d like to see him over 1200 metres at Flemington. Given the times he’s running, I think he’d be competitive there.

“Even if he’s only in second grade races, they’re still run for hundreds of thousands of dollars. But I’ll leave decisions like that to Lisa and Neville.”

Street credited McAlister with selecting Platinum Attack who, like McAlister’s rising star Platinum Pantheon, is by an Australian sire.

“Neville does a lot of study on pedigrees. When he comes to our place at Pukekohe for the sales he’s on his computer for hours looking at pedigrees, he really puts the time in.”

And neither Platinum Attack, by Santos, a son of I Am Invincible, nor Platinum Pantheon, by Hanseatic, cost a fortune, one a $37,000 weanling and the other a $60,000 yearling.

Street is hoping Platinum Attack can now go on and become the best performed galloper they have raced in a successful partnership with McAlister that traces back 20 years.

Opie Bosson brings Platinum Attack back to scale. PHOTO: Kenton Wright/Race Images.With nine wins, he equals the win tally of their ill-fated star Platinum Kingdom, who died after just 19 races, but he lags $350,000 behind the $883,860 earnings of Auckland Cup winner Platinum Invador, who also met an untimely end.

“The day he broke his leg at Pukekohe was the saddest day of my life.”

McAlister will never rate Platinum Attack near Platinum Kingdom but he is hoping that despite seven failed attempts at Group I races (for three fifths), the horse is now ready to prove Bosson right.