Attention to take on older horses in G1

Three-year-old Attention might have appeared as a late nomination for the Group One Futurity Stakes but co-trainer Peter Snowden says the plan was always to run the colt in the weight-for-age race at Caulfield.

When the entries for the race were released on Monday there were only seven horses nominated.

By Tuesday there were 10 and Attention will run in Saturday’s 1400m race as a lead-up to the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) against his own age a week later.

“He wasn’t really a late nomination. It was an error in our office,” Snowden said.

“They missed the deadline through an office error here but he was always going to run in that race.

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“I intend to back him up in the Guineas the week after. He’s a colt who missed the spring. He’s a gross colt who just needs racing to get him fit. I was happy with his first run and second runs.”

Attention won the Group Three Baillieu (1400m) in Sydney and Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) in Brisbane during his seven-start juvenile season.

He finished fifth in the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) in Sydney first-up this campaign before sticking on for second in the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last start, won by Oak Door.

He faces a number of Group One winners on Saturday including odds-on favourite Black Heart Bart, New Zealander Turn Me Loose and Palentino.

Snowden said it wouldn’t surprise him if Attention happened to run a place on Saturday.

“And it should stand him in good stead for Saturday week in the Guineas,” he said.