Platinum Attack conceding 7kg in weight to all but watch him fly in the Pegasus

Confidence in the Platinum Attack camp is high for Saturday’s $90,000 Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton, despite the horse conceding 7kg to every other runner in the field.

Trainer Lisa Latta reports the horse to be “quite in the zone” just three weeks after he scored an explosive win against better company in the Group III Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Ellerslie.

“Providing the weight is not too much of an issue for him, he should be getting over the top of them and winning this,” Latta said.

“He has to carry 60kg but he is the best horse in this field and he is a big horse so the weight is not too much of a worry.”

Latta said Platinum Attack was in top condition - his work at Awapuni on Tuesday morning was right up to the mark - and he travelled south on Thursday without turning a hair, which is what you would expect from a seasoned campaigner.

Latta described Platinum Attack’s draw of 12 in the 15-horse field as “sticky”.

“But as long as Bruno Queiroz can get some cover and present him at the top of the straight, I expect him to get home strongly.”

Platinum Attack’s sole defeat in four starts over the Pegasus dash of 1000 metres was in the 2024 edition of the race, when he jumped from the outside gate of 11.

Josh Herd leads Platinum Attack who had stand-in rider Opie Bosson aboard at Ellerslie. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.But co-owner Neville McAlister pointed out he missed the jump that day and got too far back on a track that was too wet, rated a soft 6. Despite that, he was credited with the fastest closing sectionals over the last 800, 600, 400 and 200 metres, hitting the line hard just 1.2 lengths from winner Illicit Dreams.

McAlister is hopeful the ground on Saturday will be much better. While it was still rated a soft 7 on Friday morning, that was solely because the club has irrigated 57.5mm of water in the last seven days. And with a good forecast, natural drying, and only occasional showers predicted after race start time of 2.16pm, the prospect of reasonably good footing looks assured.

Platinum Attack’s potency over 1000 metres is reflected in his three other wins at the distance, his maiden at Wairarapa in 57.19, and subsequent 55.27 clocking at Trentham on good 4 footing and 55.25 win in last year’s Pegasus, carrying 57.5kg.

McAlister, who races Platinum Attack with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, isn’t worried about the horse carrying 60kg or the draw.

“He’s carried that weight before, and had 59kg last time at Ellerslie in a stronger field.

“He’ll be fine as long as he gets cover. I can see six in the race who go forward and I think they’ll go like the clappers, which will suit him. He could get a run three or four wide, three or four lengths off them, and then it all depends on how he winds up in the straight.”

Azeezle a threat

McAlister fears the $16 shot Azeezle more than third favourite North England ($5).

“The score is one-all with Azeezle - he just beat us at Otaki last November. He’s very fast over 1000 metres and he’ll try to get a break on us. We’ll be chasing him down late.”

McAlister has some queries over talk horse North England, the winner of two of only seven starts and more than $1 million.

A former dual Group III 1100 metre two-year-old winner in Sydney for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the now four-year-old ran sixth in the Golden Slipper.

The Farnan entire is now owned by harness identities Barry and Katrina Purdon who bought him online for A$45,000, three months after he was sold on the same Inglis platform for A$200,000.

“It’s hard to know how good he is. He’s won a couple of trials against moderate South Island opposition but has been out of form and has obviously had his issues.”

All in all, McAlister sees the Pegasus as a very winnable race for Platinum Attack who has been backed in from an opening price of $3.20 to $2.70.

He earned 60kg through his rating of 105, far superior to his opposition who are spread between ratings of 74 and 92.

“If he can’t carry the weight and win this, he won’t start the following Saturday.”

The final day feature is the $140,000 Stewards (1200m), which Platinum Attack missed last year when a $2 favourite after being late scratched when a snow storm turned the track heavy.