Mick Price happy to tackle new slot race The Kiwi with Public Attention and avoid Randwick Guineas favourite Broadsiding

Mick Price explains why he eventually embraced the idea to send Public Attention to New Zeland for a new $3.5m slot race instead of taking on Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas.

Trainer Mick Price didn’t need too much convincing to change plans with Public Attention. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Mick Price wasn’t enamoured with potentially taking on Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas but is more than happy for Public Attention to instead tangle with another Aussie contender in the $3.5m The Kiwi slot race on Saturday.

Price and his co-trainer Michael Kent Jr had been initially focused on the Guineas in Sydney for Coolmore-owned Public Attention but diverted when Ozzie Kheir was keen for the grey colt to run in his slot in The Kiwi.

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Three-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding is an imposing force in the Guineas as the $1.70 favourite this weekend.

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“I had been focused on the Randwick Guineas for Public Attention, because I thought that it could find him a home at stud,” Price said.

“And it also didn’t have that extra layer of risk which travel brings.

“But if Broadsiding has come on from his last run, he (Public Attention) wouldn’t have beaten him.

“The other thing is that (Lindsay Park galloper) Evaporate is the favourite in The Kiwi.

“The Evaporate form is OK, but I am happy to take him on.

“Ellerslie is not a place where you want to be getting too far back, my colt will put himself right up there.”

The Coolmore-owned Public Attention will tackle The Kiwi on Saturday Picture: Getty Images

Wiremu Pinn, who rode winners for the Price/Michael Kent Jr stable when based in Victoria last year, will ride Public Attention in the three-year-old slot race over 1500m at Ellerslie on Saturday.

His task became harder when Public Attention drew the outside barrier (14) at a lavish function in Auckland on Tuesday night.

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After the barriers were declared, Public Attention is now rated a $5.50 chance with Evaporate (barrier 10) holding favouritism at $2.70.

Fellow Aussie contender, Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist, drew the best of the Australians in barrier two and firmed to become a $7.50 chance on the third line of betting with the New Zealand TAB.

Price is hoping Public Attention will score the rich new slot race and “that will create a market over in New Zealand for possible stud duties for him, that is the way Coolmore was thinking.”

Price, a deep thinker on racing issues, is encouraged by the way the New Zealand racing industry has emerged from the doldrums with greater prizemoney and more investment.

What a cracking night at the 2025 NZB Kiwi Barrier Draw! The field is locked in, and the stage is set for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3YO race. 🥝 🐣

Next stop... Barfoot & Champions Day | 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie.

Check out the final results below.👇 pic.twitter.com/ASXIZP0Ufc

— LOVERACING.NZ (@LOVERACINGNZ) March 4, 2025

Ladbrokes owner Entain has been a key driver after signing a 25-year strategic partnership with the New Zealand TAB.

“It is good to see that New Zealand is on the march,” Price said.

“It is a beautiful country and they need to expand their racing product which will expand their breeding product.

“Hopefully Entain really stick at it and hopefully people in New Zealand engage in racing a bit better than they have done at times.

“New Zealand needs investment in broodmares and stallions, they have got the stud farms and a beautiful environment to grow nice horses, but you need money to buy pedigrees.”

Originally published as Mick Price happy to tackle new slot race The Kiwi with Public Attention and avoid Randwick Guineas favourite Broadsiding