Snowden bids for Attention to jag spot

PETER Snowden feels Attention will be a worthy Stradbroke contestant if he can topple his older rivals and win today’s Moreton Cup at Doomben to earn a spot in the rich sprint.

The Moreton Cup represents the last chance for fringe contenders to make the Stradbroke field. Attention, who will retire to stud after the carnival, is currently 24th in the order of entry.

“He has to win to get in and he’s there to do his best,” Snowden said. “This was always going to be his last preparation and we planned to always finish up in Brisbane.

“He’s been around the money in the big races. He ran a close fourth to Black Heart Bart, so he has that sort of potential.

“For his limited amount of starts, he’s always shown good ability and yes, I do think he’s up to a Group 1 handicap.

“I’d like to think if he happened to win ( today), he deserves his place.”

One of Attention’s biggest stumbling blocks is stablemate Dothraki, who was only a photo finish away from being a Group 1 winner at this track last winter.

He hasn’t won for nearly 600 days, despite running top four eight times since, but Snowden doesn’t subscribe to the theory he’s a frustrating horse.

“He’s done a good job. He’s won $ 1.1 million. For frustration I’d cop that every day of the week,” he said.

“Look, he doesn’t win, he’s reached a level where he has 59kg, half the field has 53kg, so he’s giving everything weight.

“He’s an honest performer, but he just lacks that double- A ability. He’s very genuine and runs up to his best all the time.”

The stable also saddle Snippets Land in the Moreton Cup, while Pretty Fast has a shot at stakes company in the Bill Carter Stakes.

“Her first start was quite good at Wyong. She’s a well bred filly that’s always shown nice ability. She gets a chance in an even race,” Snowden said.