What can beat Platinum Attack in Saturday’s Stewards at Riccarton? - only bad luck

With conditions all in his favour, it seems only bad luck can beat Platinum Attack in Saturday’s $140,000 Listed Stewards Stakes at Riccarton.

Platinum Attack is shooting for his fifth win from his his last six starts, his sole defeat over 1400 metres when first-up in Well Written’s Proisir Plate at Ellerslie in September.

But last week’s sensational Pegasus winner gets his favoured 1200 metres this time, jumps from a much better alley of six and, with a good forecast, looks sure to get his favoured good racing surface.

The official report on Friday morning had the conditions as soft 7, after no rain but with 7.5mm of irrigation. And a clear forecast should see it perfect come 2.59pm start time.

That should see Platinum Attack live up to the bookies’ $2.25 favourite rating, given his opposition looks no better than that he trounced with a brilliant late sprint over 1000 metres on the first day.

Platinum Attack meets five of his Pegasus rivals, including runner-up Charmrose and third-placed Tikki, but co-owner Neville McAlister is looking to two of the four newcomers in Archaic Smile and Cheerio for the fresh opposition.

Archaic Smile, who with a rating of 94 is closest to Platinum Attack’s rating 108, is first-up for nearly eight months but claims a win over Navigator at Trentham, the same horse who was twice best of Platinum Attack’s rivals there in March and April.

And Cheerio, while only a rating 76 horse, impressed with a first-up win for Cody Cole at Hastings in September.

“But, really, with only 10 in the field you’d think that his biggest worry is bad luck.

“He didn’t have a hard run on the first day - he only sprinted the last bit - and from six he should be able to say handier.

“Normally they get away from the rail on the third day. We’ll watch the first few races and see.”

Platinum Attack’s winning margin last Saturday was only a neck but anyone who saw him hit the line after clearing a pocket 200 metres out won’t want to back one to beat him.

He stays on 60kg, the same weight he carried last week, and again gives 7g to every other runner, but he has only to repeat his standout closing sectionals of 42.18, 31.9, 21.77 and 11.18 to give Bruno Queoriz a third big scalp for the carnival.

That would boost the horse’s earnings for McAlister and Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street to $664,000 from only 27 starts.