Promising Platinum Attack could be our early Christmas present at Otaki on Thursday

“I haven’t ridden a horse that’s trialled up like that for a long time.”

Jonathan Riddell’s summation of Platinum Attack’s recent trial explains why there’s plenty of anticipation in the camp over the horse’s debut in the third race at Otaki on Thursday.

Platinum Attack ($5, $2) didn’t win the 1000 metre trial at Foxton but there was a lot to like about the way he went to the line under wraps to finish three-quarters of a length from the winner Hakatere.

Trainer Lisa Latta is not one to get too cocky about debutants but admits she’s “looking forward to seeing what he has to offer on raceday.

“He has a lot of raw ability and has never been let off the bridle at home or at the jumpouts or trials.”

Platinum Attack closes in stylishly in his trial at Foxton.Latta instructed Riddell to ride Platinum Attack very quietly early in his November 28 trial.

“We know how much ability he’s got. He’s been very smart at the jumpouts and I didn’t want him having a hard one.

“I also wanted to make sure if he settles back in the field that we’ve got something.

“Jonathan was rapt with him and said he gave him a really good feel.”

Riddell reported Platinum Attack did everything right, settled nicely, and wasn’t fazed by a rival coming back on him, getting round it before hitting the line really well.

That told Latta plenty about a progressive horse who had shown in the past he could get a little hot at times.

Platinum Attack’s heat wasn’t the fastest run by the maidens but the 1:01.62 clocking compared favourably with open heat winners Shamus (1:02.4), who went on to run a slashing close third at Trentham and Whangaehu (1:00.47) who also won at Trentham a couple of weeks later.

Latta is hoping Platinum Attack’s lovely draw of two on Thursday will allow Riddell to get a nice trip just in behind the speed, likely to be set up by what looks to be his main rivals in Vavoom and jumpout winner Sindee.

The footing at Otaki today was rated a good4, with a clear forecast, so the conditions should be a little better than on trial day at Foxton when the ground was a soft5.

How Platinum Attack looked as a weanling in 2021.Platinum Attack is the latest in a long line of gallopers raced by Lincoln Farms and partner Neville McAlister, a combination which has been very successful since 2006.

A A$37,000 weanling buy at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale in 2021, he is by Highview Stud’s Santos, a son of Australian champion sire I Am Invincible.

Santos, a fast juvenile who won the 2018 Skyline Stakes before running in the Golden Slipper, won two of his only eight starts.

He has already produced a Group I winner in Ulanova, six and three-quarter length winner of the Group III Taranaki Classic and promoted winner of the Sistema Stakes at Pukekohe in March.

Platinum Attack is the first foal of Conchita, who won four races, two as a two-year-old.

She has an International pedigree and her third dam Notable left two Group II winners including Red Cardinal, champion older male stayer in Germany in 2017 and the winner of seven races up to 3200 metres. He won the Group III Belmont Gold Cup in the United States two starts before running 11th in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.