Public Attention emerges as Randwick Guineas threat with stunning Eskimo Prince Stakes victory

Public Attention announced himself as a Group 1 Randwick Guineas contender with an impressive return win in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick.

Public Attention (right) surges away from Linebacker in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Striking grey Public Attention announced himself a bona fide Group 1 contender with an impressive stakes-winning return at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr scored their biggest Sydney win since opening a stable at Rosehill Gardens last year when their smart colt took out the Group 3 $250,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

But Price and Kent Jr now have even bigger ambitions for Public Attention with plans to plot a course towards the Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 8.

Public Attention, raced by breeding powerhouse Coolmore, finished fifth in the Caulfield Guineas but has returned a different beast in the autumn and will get his chance to deliver on his potential in Sydney.

“He is a better horse than he was last time,” Price said.

“After the Caulfield Guineas, he had a good ride in the race and was beaten fair and square, and after each run last preparation we were nursing a bit of shin soreness with him.

“This preparation has sailed through as a bigger, physically stronger specimen and we saw the benefit of that today.

“He has got a big circle around the Randwick Guineas.”

Public Attention commands attention by taking out the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes first up!@SchofieldChad | @MickPriceRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/VD2kfCXqRl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

Public Attention laid down an ominous marker for the Group 1 over an unsuitable trip in the Eskimo Prince.

Kerrin McEvoy sprung the first surprise of the Group 3 lead up when he ended up leading on Linebacker.

He was able to get a relatively easy time of it out in front with Public Attention travelling well to his outside.

Public Attention ($4.80) was getting better the further they went and overhauled the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Linebacker ($4.80) late to score by 1¼ lengths.

Chris Waller’s Gatsby’s ($4.20) was a length away in third.

Jockey Chad Schofield was in awe of Public Attention post race.

“He is stunning,” Schofield said.

“I’ve loved him since the first time I rode him at trackwork.

“Obviously I was really impressed with his two trials. He is just a beautiful colt with a great attitude and great action.

“He is lovely to ride and it was great to see him do that today over that sort of distance because he is only going to get better as he gets up over further.”

Price gave credit to his Rosehill Gardens team, which is headed by assistant trainer Ben Elam.

“The boys are doing a great job there,” he said.

“They are good riders and Ben Elam is doing a fantastic job.

“Ben has been with me for seven years and he is a fine young man. He loves the training aspect of it.”

Chad Schofield speaks with assistant trainer Ben Elam after the win. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Price and Kent Jr will take the traditional path to the Randwick Guineas with Public Attention to run again in a fortnight in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

The stable are adamant Public Attention will come into his own when he gets out to a mile.

“If you have a look at his family, he is one of Patrick Hogan’s families, and it’s a beautiful 1600m New Zealand family,” Price said.

“He has got 1600m written all over him.”

Bookies shortened Public Attention from $15 into $8 for the Randwick Guineas where Godolphin weapon Broadsiding remains a $3.50 favourite while Linebacker continues to be a $6 second elect.

McEvoy thought Linebacker’s was a “good run” and expects the gelding will benefit from getting over more ground next start.

“Improvement to come out of that out to 1400m,” he said.

Snow In May, also trained by O’Shea and Charlton, was smashed in betting and jumped as an outright $4 favourite but couldn’t muster the necessary sprint closer to the fence, finishing fifth.

She will line up again in three weeks time in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) against her own age and sex.

Golden Rose placegetter Mayfair was caught three deep the trip and was entitled to get tired late.

Lisztomania overcomes wide run to break drought

Lisztomania thrust himself into Country Championships calculations with his first win in more than two years at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Todd Payne-trained gelding ended a run of near misses in Highway races with a gutsy victory over 1200m.

Lisztomania hadn’t won since February 5, 2023 at Port Macquarie but had placed on five occasions in Highway event before enjoying his day in the sun.

“He was just unlucky all last prep,” Payne said.

“We only had the four runs but it is eight hours drive down here.

“He had the four runs then went to the paddock and he goes well fresh so today was always the plan.”

Lisztomania breaks a 733-day drought in winning the TAB Highway at Randwick with @mcacajamez in the saddle for Todd Payne 👏 pic.twitter.com/gHnp3WcLmE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

Champion jockey James McDonald was never closer than three-wide but had cover in the run in the back half of the field.

He launched his challenge down the middle of the track and lifted Lisztomania ($5) late to edge out the Danny Williams-trained Exit Fee ($7.50) with Noel Mayfield-Smith’s Sammy Conquers All ($81) in third.

“He is a beauty to ride,” McDonald said.

“He does what he has to do.

“I didn’t think I was going to get there until he had to really dig deep late but it was a good effort.”

Payne plans to target the Hunter North West heat of the Country Championships on March 9 with Lisztomania.

He shortened from $26 into $15 to win the lucrative series which culminates with the $1m Country Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 5.

Originally published as Public Attention emerges as Randwick Guineas threat with stunning Eskimo Prince Stakes victory