ATTACKUM STORMS HOME

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 16, 2009

2MW Handicap - 1200m. Time 1-09.79. Track: Good 3. Rail: Out 2m the entire circuit.
1 Attackum; 2 Pyramids: 3 Unintentional.

After disappointing last time, Attackum resumed his winning ways, securing his fourth win from his last five starts. The lightly raced four-year-old gelding (this was only his eighth start) pulled himself up to contest the lead in the early part. He took the outright lead in the sweep to the home turn. There was pressure early in the straight, but Attackum responded well when Craig Williams got more vigorous in the saddle and he opened up a winning advantage when extending from the 250m mark. There were challenges coming late, but they were never going to trouble the winner after his decisive move mid-straight.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Richard Otto: “He just got fired up last time (in his first start in Australia). He just took off with Larry (Cassidy) on the way to the start and got all wound up. You know we couldn’t restrain him much. We did expect him to ride him a bit off the speed, but he wanted to get up there early so ... but he’s a nice horse. He’s doing a lot wrong still. He’s got a huge amount of ability, but he still does things wrong. He’s a little bit aggressive. Yet he is not like that at all in his work. There he’s completely relaxed. I think ... who knows, something like the Glasshouse at the end of the carnival would be a nice race for him with no weight, but we’ll just place him in the right races. He’s still got to learn what it is all about.

Jockey Craig Williams: “When Richard (Otto) rang up and asked to engage me for this horse he told me that the horse is a little bit new, but he’s got loads of ability and it would be nice to get him in his right rhythm. He was a bit fired up last time, a few things went against him ... anyway, he seemed to be a really good ride. So I took the ride today.

“Just going through the form ... Richard rides him and he knows the horse inside out ... he would be better with a sit. My horse was a bit green and a bit new and we wanted to get cover with him. He is a very aggressive horse. Unfortunately today he had other ideas. When he got to the lead, he couldn’t cross and I didn’t want to force the horse off the bridle. So I was happy to sit one off the fence, where he was comfortable. There wasn’t any pressure in the race, so you probably saw a horse win out of turn in regards to the running style that he has possessed to date. He is still learning.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mr Richard Otto trainer of Attackum stated that he had asked C. Williams to try to ride the horse with cover. He said however, that after the race C. Williams had told him the horse had travelled kindly for him and therefore elected to go to the front. Mr Otto stated that when Attackum had run previously at Eagle Farm when ridden by L. Cassidy he did not think they were a good pairing as the horse went to the post too strongly and was not comfortable in the run. He thought it was therefore advisable to engage a lighter jockey today who was able to use bigger gear.