The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is not shying away from the enormity of the task Public Attention faces in his first Group 1 task.
The Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday will be Public Attention’s fourth race start, however the Cranbourne-based trainers have faith in their colt giving a good account of himself.
Public Attention was successful on debut at Caulfield in July and after a little break did not reappear until the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, when fifth behind Angel Capital.
That galloper again had the better of Public Attention in the Group 3 Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 21, but as Kent Jnr pointed out both runs were full of excuses.
“In his second start at The Valley in the McKenzie Stakes, he was held up on the fence that day,” Kent Jnr said.
“He drew inside and got buried away then he was three wide, no cover, in the Guineas Prelude and arguably was the run of the race.
“He stayed on really well and with even luck, his record could be even a bit tidier.”
Kent Jnr does not see the rise to 1600m being a problem for Public Attention, as he pointed out the colt covered ground in that outing.
More concerning for Kent Jnr is the presence of Broadsiding from the James Cummings and Godolphin team, already a winner of three Group 1 races, including the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill at his most recent outing.
“No doubt, the good colt coming down from Sydney is going to be very tough to beat,” Kent Jnr said.
“But our colt is doing an almighty job in what is basically his first racing preparation.
“He’s going the right way, but they don’ t give away Caulfield Guineas races, and he’s going to be in the money somewhere.”
Kent Jnr believe he and Price have timed their preparation with Public Attention to have him peaking on Saturday, and the rest will be up to Ethan Brown who has been aboard the colt in all three starts to date.
