Attica’s tricky Group 1 assignment in 2025 Spring Champion Stakes

Randwick trainer Joe Pride is full of confidence in Attica’s condition ahead of the $2 million Spring Champion Stakes but admits the barrier gods haven’t been kind. The talented colt drew gate 13, which will become 12 if the emergency Pinot Nero is scratched from Saturday’s Group 1 feature.

Attica turned heads with a powerful come-from-behind victory in the Dulcify Stakes (1600m), but Pride says a repeat of those tactics isn’t guaranteed. “The horse is great, I’m very happy with him,” Pride said. “It’s not the best barrier, is it? (It’s a) tricky start. It’s just getting the ride right and I think this is probably a classic case of why they shouldn’t have change of tactics rules, to be honest.”

Originally favourite for the Spring Champion, Attica now sits second in betting behind Shangri La Boy, who drew ideally in gate two. Still, with two wins and a placing from just three starts, the son of Lonhro continues to shape as one of the brightest staying prospects in training.

Pride was quick to praise his partnership with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team, who have entrusted him with several promising gallopers. “They’ve been really good, I keep them across what’s going on, they’ve got some really good minds in that business behind the scenes and we lean on them, so it’s been good,” Pride said. “It’s great support from one of the biggest owners in the world. I’m very happy with it, it’s going well so far, we’ve been handed some handy horses and getting some good results with them, which is good.”

By Lonhro out of the former Godolphin mare Savatiano, Attica is bred to handle the distance and is being aimed at a similar path to stablemate El Castello, last year’s Spring Champion winner. El Castello will line up in the $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m) after recent runs in the Epsom and King Charles III Stakes.

“I’m turning him around quick, which I’m hoping will bring out something a bit better in him than what he’s been doing and I took the blinkers off because Adam (Hyeronimus) thought he went a bit hard in them the other day,” Pride said.

Chad Schofield, fresh from his Group 1 success on Ceolwulf, will partner El Castello from barrier one in a field of eight. For updated odds and Spring Champion Stakes betting options, visit Australia’s leading betting sites.