Godolphin made the difficult decision to geld Tom Kitten when he was a Group 1 winner, a move that not only proved beneficial for his subsequent racing career but also established a successful precedent.
Jason Walsh, Godolphin’s racing and bloodstock manager, explained that their positive experience with the dual All-Star Mile champion gave them the confidence to adopt a similar strategy for the Joe Pride-trained Attica. Like Tom Kitten, Attica was a colt when he secured the Spring Champion Stakes, but faced a turning point in his career after struggling to maintain that form during the autumn period.
“It’s an interesting comparison,” Walsh stated.
“We made the decision to geld him (Attica) with the hope that he would develop into a horse like Tom Kitten, someone who could go on to win more Group Ones at weight-for-age. Of course, he still has that to achieve.
“It’s never an easy decision for our organisation to geld Group One winners.
“However, since his return this time as a gelding, Joe has noted a significant change in his demeanour. He’s more alert and focused. His trial performances have reflected this, and he’s showing improved gate manners from the starting machines.”
The similarities between the two horses are so striking that Tom Kitten and Attica are both being targeted at the same event – Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
Tom Kitten aims to rebound from two unplaced efforts in Melbourne, which Walsh believes had valid justifications. Meanwhile, Attica enters the race with a strong recent form line. Despite not being fully committed to racing in his last campaign, he finished third behind Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) over the same course and distance as the Epsom. He has been building momentum in his two recent starts, most notably an impressive third in the Tramway Stakes (1400m).
Attica also benefits from a favourable weight allocation, carrying only 51.5kg.
“He possesses the ideal profile to perform well with that weight,” Walsh commented.
“His performances against Autumn Boy, who is currently the race favourite, are quite strong, and the weight difference suggests we can anticipate a competitive showing from a good draw.”
In a clear indication of intent, trainer Joe Pride has re-applied blinkers to Attica, a gear he was accustomed to during a recent barrier trial with jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
“They’re on. Joe was eager for Attica to trial with them and for Kerrin to experience how he felt in them, and both were very satisfied with the outcome of that morning’s work,” Walsh shared.
“He might require a little assistance when the race intensifies to reach his top speed as quickly as possible. However, he has achieved significant victories in these before, he returns as a gelding, and this race has been specifically targeted for him.”
Godolphin has previously won the Epsom Handicap twice in the last decade, with Hartnell in 2018 and Hauraki in 2016.
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