Attica (AUS)
3 c Lonhro – Savatiano by Street Cry
O: Godolphin
B: Godolphin
T: Joseph Pride
W: Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Maiden Handicap, 1400m, September 3, Warwick Farm
Joe Pride has trained his share of tough sprinters but admits few have carried the pedigree of debut Warwick Farm winner Attica (Lonhro).
The three-year-old is the first foal out of multiple Group winner Savatiano (Street Cry) and was among the Godolphin horses transferred to public trainers earlier this year.
Attica was tested in a 1400-metre maiden on Wednesday, but knuckled down late under Adam Hyeronimus to run down Decorum (Snitzel), a brother to Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Switzerland, and win by 0.7 lengths.
Frankel (Galileo) filly Enviable finished a shade behind in third place.
“It [pedigree] has got to be close [to the best], doesn’t it?” Pride said of Attica.
“When they gave me the horses they said, ‘we’ve given you Attica’ and I didn’t know who Attica was so I looked it up and thought, wow.
“First start in a race and you’ve got to come here and do it under race pressure.
“He’s a very laidback, casual type. He needed to wake up today and he did that under race pressure, which is good. He’s only just turned three, I think it was yesterday [Tuesday], September 2, so he’s officially just turned three.”
Pride indicated stakes company would be on the colt’s radar this spring.
“He’s a big baby who’s got to get his handle on it all, but for the spring, I’d love to think we can get him into a stakes race and see how he handles that next level of pressure,” he said.
“There is plenty to like about him and there’s plenty of him. He’s a big, strong, strapping boy, and I’m sure his future’s very bright.”
A half-sister to to Group 2 scorer Vilana (Hallowed Crown) and to the Group 2-placed Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro), Savatiano has since produced two colts by Palace Pier (Kingman) and I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit). She missed to Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) last season.