Attenborough can get Elevated

Some decent three-year-olds meet in Race 2, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m at Durbanville today and it could fall the way of the Joey Ramsden-trained Attenborough.

This Western Winter colt had a smashing two-year-old season winning twice and being placed in his remaining three starts.

Attenborough looked like he was going the right way when beating subsequent winner Cream Soda Green in March and slammed the decent sprinter Elevated by 2.25 lengths in May.

On that day he had rival in this race Sergeant Hardy five lengths back in fourth so it was a bit of a surprise when Sergeant Hardy turned that form around in their next meeting where over the same course and distance (Kenilworth 1200m) there was 1.50 lengths the difference in Sergeant Hardy’s favour. It is very likely that Sergeant Hardy had needed the run when he suffered his only defeat.

Attenborough has come out since and was fourth behind Table Bay over the Kenilworth 1500m. It looked like Attenborough found 1500m a bit far at that stage of his career so will like the drop back in distance. This course should suit him and he is well drawn at No 3.

Another runner who looks decent and it will be no surprise were he to win is Our Mate Art. This Australian-bred colt quickened up really nicely on debut and beat a smart rival in Lord Balmoral by 0.75 lengths over 1200m.