Money comes for Platinum Attack with the promise of better footing at Trentham

With no rain in the forecast, punters are warming to explosive sprinter Platinum Attack at Trentham on Saturday.

The four-year-old, who opened a $4.80 second fancy for the eighth race, is now a clear $4.20 favourite for what promises to be his final run this campaign.

And both owners Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms and trainer Lisa Latta are hoping the track dries out to the soft 5 range to allow him to show his dazzling turn of foot.

Trentham, which has had 44ml of rain in the last week, was rated a soft 7 on Wednesday, and was still advertised at the same rating this afternoon, despite 24 hours with no rain.

But Latta believes with two more days of drying, the surface could end up perfect for Platinum Attack late in the day.

“The drier it is, the better he’ll go,” McAlister said. “On good tracks he really pings but wetter ground takes that away from him.”

Platinum Attack’s form digits might not be as attractive as some of his rivals but he has been mixing it with the country’s best in Group I features, running fifth in the Telegraph, fifth in the Railway - just a length behind Crocetti in the worst of the ground - and seventh over 1400 metres in the BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa.

The photo finish goes against Platinum Attack after his big late charge last start at Trentham.Saturday’s opposition, while strong, have not been tilting at such a high level and Platinum Attack immediately reminded punters of his ability when he dropped back to the Listed Lightning Handicap run on a soft6 on the course on March 22.

After bombing the start from the inside gate, and having trouble finding a gap in the home straight, he reeled off the fastest closing sectionals in the race, 42.6 (800), 31.46 (600), 20.99 (400) and 10.98 (200) to go under by a nose to Glamour Tycoon in a thrilling photo finish.

Platinum Attack gets gate five on Saturday but McAlister says he’d have been happier if he’d drawn even wider.

“The one draw cost him the race last time. He’s a big horse who likes plenty of galloping room so he’s bettter out a bit.”

McAlister points to the horse’s third win at Trentham last December when he drew very wide and though stuck there, rider Jonathan Riddell was able to tuck in behind a rival for cover, before charging home to score decisively.

McAlister says Saturday’s race is probably it for the season but there was a chance he might have one more to test him again over 1400 metres, given things didn’t go his way in his first attempt at the trip.

With just 14 starts under his belt, McAlister says Platinum Attack is “coming along nicely” with five wins and $202,000 already in the bank.

“But we’ve looked after him this prep as he’s still an immature baby. You can see that when you compare him in the birdcage with the Group I horses.

“All this season he’s looked six months away, so we’ve been happy to wait for him to grow into himself. Hopefully, if he stays in one piece, next season as a five-year-old should be his year.”