Godolphin sees Attica as a Tom Kitten clone

The strategic decision by Godolphin to geld Tom Kitten after he achieved Group 1 success proved to be a masterstroke, not only enhancing his racing future but also providing a blueprint for future operations.

Jason Walsh, the racing and bloodstock manager for Godolphin, highlighted how their successful experience with the two-time All-Star Mile winner instilled confidence to replicate the approach with the Joe Pride-trained Attica. Attica, much like Tom Kitten, was a colt when he clinched the Spring Champion Stakes. However, he reached a critical juncture in his career when his form declined in the autumn.

"It's an interesting comparison," Walsh stated.

"We made the decision to geld him (Attica) in the hope he'd make into a Tom Kitten, a subsequent weight-for-age gelding hopefully winning more Group Ones along the way. He's obviously got that yet to do.

"They're hard decisions for our operation to geld Group One winners.

"But from the day he's come in this time as a gelding, Joe has said he carries himself differently. He's sharper. He's trialled like that, and he's jumping from the machines better."

The parallels between Tom Kitten and Attica are so pronounced that they are both slated to compete in the same race: Saturday's Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Tom Kitten is aiming to recover from two recent unplaced runs in Melbourne, for which Walsh asserts there were genuine reasons. Attica, on the other hand, brings a string of solid recent performances. Even without full racing commitment last campaign, he managed a third-place finish behind Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), run over the Epsom's course and distance. His form has been building steadily over his last two starts, including a notable third in the Tramway Stakes (1400m).

Furthermore, Attica is well-handicapped, set to carry just 51.5kg.

"He's got the perfect profile to show up with that sort of weight here," Walsh commented.

"His form around Autumn Boy, who's race favourite, is pretty good, and he's got enough weight differential to say we're looking forward to competing from a good draw."

Demonstrating a clear intention, trainer Joe Pride has reintroduced blinkers on Attica, a gear he trialled with recently under jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

"They're on. Joe was keen to trial him and give Kerrin the chance to feel him in them, and both came away from that morning very pleased," Walsh explained.

"He probably needs a little bit of help when the pressure goes on in a race to find top gear as quick as he can. But he's won some very big races in them in the past, he comes back as a gelding, and we've set him up with this race in mind."

Godolphin has a strong record in the Epsom Handicap, having won the prestigious race twice in the last decade with Hartnell in 2018 and Hauraki in 2016.

With the Epsom Handicap on the horizon, the allure of betting markets on Australian betting sites is undeniable.