Hard to choose between Attack and Kruz in Saturday’s Pegasus dash at Riccarton

A talented young gun in Platinum Attack and a seasoned campaigner in Lincoln’s Kruz give Lincoln Farms an excellent chance in Saturday’s $90,000 Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton.

But while trainer Lisa Latta says four-year-old Platinum Attack has more ability than his eight-year-old stablemate, that might not necessarily translate into a better payday on the first day of Christchurch’s cup carnival.

With Platinum Attack ($6.50) drawn the outside of the gate and Lincoln’s Kruz the rail, the youngster will need a decent slice of luck.

But more importantly, Latta says while Platinum Attack has improved mentally in this, his second campaign, his inexperience of travelling to a carnival could be telling.

“He got a little worked up when he went to Waikato a few weeks ago and didn’t settle so it will be interesting to see how he copes this time.

“They left the stables last night and have crossed safely, and are due to arrive down at Riccarton around lunch time today.

“This is Platinum Attack’s first big trip away from home but I expect it to be the making of him. He is looking an absolute picture and has a real spring in his step but he has a lot of hurdles to overcome whereas the other horse is a seasoned traveller.”

Platinum Attack stops the clock at 55.27 in beating Tightly Laced at Trentham in March. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.That said, Platinum Attack did all expected of him when resuming at Te Rapa nearly four weeks ago, hitting the line hard for sixth with the second fastest closing 600 metres in 33.79.

“They were winning on speed but he drew wide and had to go back (and wasn’t helped by being crowded out of the gates).”

It was just the seventh start for the Santos gelding who impressed good judges when winning four on end between February and April.

The third of those wins, at Trentham, was over Saturday’s distance of 1000 metres when he clocked a sizzling 55.27, just six one-hundredths of a second outside the track record set by Diamond Like when winning the Lightning Stakes on the course in 2003.

Latta says the plan on Saturday is for Kelly Myers to ride Platinum Attack positively from his wide gate.

“I don’t think it’s a very strong field and if he can get some luck from the draw I see no reason he can’t bounce back to winning form.”

Lincoln’s Kruz might be twice as old as Platinum Attack but his 1000 metre prowess and his Pegasus record sees him a $6 second favourite.

Five of Lincoln’s Kruz’s seven wins have been over the short dash and after winning the Pegasus by two lengths in 2022 he went within half a neck of repeating the feat last year.

Remarkably, Lincoln’s Kruz has only 1kg more than he carried in those two editions, his 54kg just 1kg above the minimum and a whopping 5kg less than topweight Our Echo.

Lincoln’s Kruz just goes under to Not Guilty in last year’s Pegasus, shading Saturday’s favourite The Radiant One. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Latta says punters should completely ignore the duck egg in Lincoln Kruz’s form line - he only ran at Trentham to get fit for the southern trip and was never going to handle the heavy 10 track.

“He has taken a ton of improvement out of his fresh-up run and is right where he needs to be for this.

“He jumps from the inside gate so will get an economical trip and if Lily Sutherland gets the gaps at the right time, I am expecting him to be right in the finish with only 54kg on his back.”

The Riccarton track was rated a soft 7 this morning but with a fine forecast the going is expected to be perfect for both horses on Saturday.

Race favourite The Radiant One ($4.20) is fresh-up, the same condition he was in when a long head third behind Lincoln’s Kruz in the Pegasus last year.