Craig Kerry
Joe Pride was one of the big winners at the Doncaster Mile barrier draw when Attica and Headley Grange drew three and seven respectively.
But if he had his choice, the Warwick Farm trainer would switch those gates around for his contrasting challengers as he hunts a third Doncaster trophy.
Pride is desperate to give Attica a chance to reproduce his Dulcify (1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) victories, where he soared down the outside.
The Lonhro colt showed he could be a Derby contender with his tremendous finish to win the Spring Champion, but Pride has since focused on shorter targets. He was strong to the line when fourth in the Hobartville (1400m) and third in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) against his own age before finishing eighth behind Autumn Glow and co in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in preparation for the Doncaster, rather than stepping out to 2000m in the Rosehill Guineas.
Attica has raced inside other runners in all three starts this preparation and Pride wanted a change, which may now be difficult from the draw in three.
“I’d be happy to flip those barriers around and give Attica the outside one in seven,” Pride said.
“I just want to see him get to the outside of horses. I haven’t seen him do that all prep. He won his two group races in a very similar fashion, he had high-pressure races, run really quickly and he got to the outside. That’s what I want to see him do that Saturday, and if he can do that, I think he’s got a big peak performance in him.
“I think he’s better than his Randwick Guineas run, which was good. You can line him up against a horse like Autumn Boy in that run, but he’s better than that.”
Attica, with 50 kilograms and Andrew Adkins to ride, was a $15 chance in a market dominated by his fellow three-year-olds, Sheza Alibi ($2) and Autumn Boy ($6).
While Attica’s path has been wait and see, five-year-old Headley Grange has been set for the Doncaster since rising to stakes grade success last year. He won the Civic Stakes, the group 3 Cameron Handicap and the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes in 2025 and has charged to the line for fourth and fifth in the group 1 Canterbury (1300m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m) this time in.
He was the shortest-priced runner among the older horses at $15 on Wednesday and Pride was confident he could challenge. Jason Collett rides at 54.5kg.
“He is just an absolute model of consistency,” he said.
“He’ll run a great race. I could not see him not running in the first three or four.
“It’s all been about this race, ever since he went out to the paddock, and he’s had the appropriate lead ups.
“The market doesn’t seem to be paying [older horses] much respect, but by Saturday, who knows what it will look like. It’s all dominated by one horse, so it will be interesting to see if she can live up to it.”
Pride won the Doncaster with Vision And Power in 2009 and Sacred Choice in 2011, both carrying 52kg.
“It’s one of my favourite trophies,” he said.
“I wouldn’t mind winning another one, it’s been a long time between drinks.”
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