Joe Pride is convinced that initial betting markets are off the mark, positioning the Randwick Guineas as a showdown between his Group One victor Attica and the Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy.
The duo delivered comparable performances in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on their seasonal return, lingering at the rear before separating, with Autumn Boy sweeping wide for second behind Ninja and Attica weaving inside into fourth place.
That said, following Attica securing the wide barrier upon Wednesday’s acceptances, oddsmakers extended the Godolphin colt’s price to $10, keeping Chris Waller’s Autumn Boy at $2.50 favoritism, narrowly ahead of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Sheza Alibi on $2.60.
“I can’t line Peter Moody’s filly up, and that’s not to say she’s not a chance. I’m just struggling to line her up,” Pride said.
“But I would have thought Autumn Boy or Attica will be winning the Randwick Guineas.
“I think my boy will, but I’m not going to take Chris’ horse for granted because he is a good colt.”
Attica has form at the Randwick mile, taking the Dulcify Stakes across the Guineas track and trip leading into his Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) triumph.
Pride remains delighted with every phase of the Godolphin colt’s campaign, noting that a seamless, trouble-free buildup represents a vital element for Group 1 success.
“It has all gone exactly to the script I have wanted it to, and generally when you look back and you’ve won a Group One, you look back at the preparation and go, ‘well it just all went to plan, didn’t it,'” Pride said.
“We’re not there yet, but that’s the way it has felt this preparation.
“Every step of the way he has met the markers I have wanted him to be at, and that makes his job easier because it’s uninterrupted.”
Although Pride desired a kinder draw, Attica confronts just eight opponents in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), as Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy secure adjacent stalls in barriers two and three.
Explore the Australian betting sites for the best Randwick Guineas markets.
