Public Attention set to target Caulfield Guineas

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable have some ambitious plans for Public Attention after his debut win at Caulfield.

The Written Tycoon colt took out the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1200m) on Saturday to follow the victory of former stablemate Ourboros in the race 12 months ago.

Ourboros went on to run at Stakes level at his next start before a break, but Price is already aiming higher with Public Attention.

Ridden by Ethan Brown, Public Attention ($16) scored by a neck from Ndola ($5.50) with the $4.20 betting site favourite Band Of Brothers a further length away third.

Price is already talking Public Attention up as a potential Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) contender but was relieved to post Saturday’s victory in the final two-year-old event on a Saturday in Melbourne for the season.

“When something wins, everyone says I really like him,” Price said.

“But just the fact that we turn up on a Saturday, with some proven form and horses that are ahead of us, gives you an idea of what we felt about the horse.

“We could have taken him to a bush meeting, but we want him qualified for the better races.

“He’s one of the horses that we have not done a DNA on, and we will do a DNA on him, but without a DNA, I would be going Caulfield Guineas 2024 with him.

“At this point I’ve got to say whether he’s a Coolmore horse or a Caulfield Guineas horse, and I would say Caulfield Guineas.”

Price said Public Attention was a light and backwards colt as a yearling and went shin sore in three different preparations before making his way to the races.

“It took him 15 months before he started to morph into a colt and you look at him now, he’s a beautiful horse,” Price said.

“I’ve got to time him now for the Caulfield Guineas, but it’s nice to get that two-year-old race out of the way, especially as a potential stallion.”