For trainer Joe Pride, the outcome of this weekend’s Golden Eagle is secondary to the valuable experience Godolphin gelding Attica will gain.
While the allure of the $5.25 million first prize is undeniable, Pride emphasizes his primary role is to foster Attica’s development into the best possible racehorse for the future.
A Group 1 victor at three, some might perceive Attica as having reached his zenith. However, Pride holds a different perspective, viewing the gelding’s current campaign as crucial for building long-term resilience.
“As I’ve kept saying with him, he’s a work in progress,” Pride stated. “I know he’s a Group One winner early in his life and people just expected him to stay there. But he beat up on a bunch of spring three-year-olds then, and it’s taking him every bit of this time we’re giving him to get to where he’s eventually going to get to, which I think is going to be a Group One horse again.”
Gelded after a mixed autumn preparation, Attica has delivered consistent, competitive results across four spring starts, with the exception of the Epsom Handicap (1600m) where he exhibited signs of over-racing before weakening.
He subsequently bounced back with a narrow sixth behind Apocalyptic in the Silver Eagle (1300m). While Pride does not anticipate Attica challenging the heavily favoured Sheza Alibi in Saturday’s Golden Eagle (1500m), he is confident the horse will perform admirably.
“The Epsom, it went wrong. The other day, he ran really well. He was beaten a length-and-a-half, and he carried the full penalty for being a Group One winner,” Pride explained. “It’s not an easy assignment on Saturday, but you don’t get many chances to run for this kind of prizemoney. I feel like he’s spot-on.
“From the draw, I’d love to think he’ll be running fourth, fifth, sixth, and if he gets that trail, puts his head down, settles, I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t first five in the race.”
Attica is currently priced at $34 in pre-post markets. The only other runner at single-figure odds, besides the $1.70 favourite Sheza Alibi, is Chris Waller’s Beiwacht at $7.
Sheza Alibi is significantly dropping back in distance from her recent second-place finish in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m). While Pride acknowledges her unique preparation, he defers to Peter Moody’s expertise with the mare.
“It’s an unconventional preparation, but I’m not second guessing Peter. He’s a master trainer,” he concluded.
You can find the best odds for the Golden Eagle at leading Australian betting sites.