Pace should help Platinum Attack roar home at Otaki on Saturday before cyclone hits

Trainer Lisa Latta is staying positive about Platinum Attack’s chances at Otaki on Saturday despite drawing very wide in the Listed $80,000 City Of Napier Sprint.

The impressive last start winner of the Lightning Handicap at Trentham landed marble 19 but, with a maximum field size of 14, will likely start from 13.

And Latta is buoyed by the fact that there are a number of on-speed sprinters in the race to hopefully guarantee a genuine tempo.

“I think it will be a big help to him with horses like Shoes, Poetic Champion and Idyllic who all go forward,” Latta said.

“If they can really put the speed on we know this will help him a lot and give him his best chance to get over the top of them.”

Aiding Platinum Attack’s cause too is the fact that the top five in the handicap have also drawn wide - Navigator 15, Force Of Nature 19, Bedtime Story 20 and Bold Belle 17.

“We just need luck in the running. Bruno Queiroz will look to get cover from the draw and hopefully find clear air to come home.

“I couldn’t be happier with his work, he had his final hit-out on Wednesday morning on the course proper where his work was a strong as ever. He still has his summer coat and is looking fantastic.”

Tropical cyclone Vaianu is expected to hit Northland on Saturday night and move across the North Island on Sunday.Hopes of very good footing on Saturday were dashed with a near 40mm downpour at Otaki on Wednesday but the reading improved from a heavy 8 to a soft 7 this morning. And with Cyclone Vaianu not expected to move down the North Island until Sunday, and a clear forecast until Saturday, Latta is hoping the conditions will improve enough to favour her charge.

Platinum Attack made the most of reasonable footing and a decent draw to score a decisive win in the Listed Lightning three weeks ago, punted in heavily from $7 to start a $2.90 favourite, and quickly putting the field away with a devastating turn of foot mid-stretch.

Despite that he is only the $5 second favourite on Saturday, with all the early money going on Andrew Forsman’s Kitty Flash, in from $5.50 to $2.80.

Drawn seven with top rider Craig Grylls booked, she was a smart trial winner at Ellerslie on March 1 and finished a close-up fourth after a quieter hit-out at Avondale two weeks later.

Placed at Group II and Group III level in just 11 starts, her best form has been over 1400 metres but she did win first-up last preparation over 1200 metres at Tauranga in a rating 75 event.

Early plunge

Earlier, in the third race, stablemate Platinum Tyche has been the subject of an early plunge, her opening odds of $8.50, slashed to $6.50.

And Latta gives the mare a good chance after her late closing fourth, on an unsuitably heavy track, when resuming from a break at Wanganui on March 14.

“I couldn’t be happier with her work and she has certainly improved from her first-up run when she was slow away and did not have all favours.

“I don’t think it’s the strongest of fields and the forecast is looking good so I think she will get her chance to bounce back to winning form.”

Platinum Tyche steps up from 1600 metres to her preferred 2100 metres on Saturday and Queiroz rides from gate four.