Bought through the Karaka sale ring and part-owned by Sir Peter Vela, classy colt Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) produced a bold audition for upcoming feature races in Sydney with a first-up victory in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three Asahi Super Dry Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Public Attention has now had five starts for two wins and a placing. He has earned A$356,875 for an ownership syndicate that includes Sir Peter Vela along with Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Paul Shanahan, Joe Poulin, Meridian Bloodstock, Aristia Park Bloodstock, Mr K MacLennan, Rockingham Thoroughbreds, Peachester Lodge, Woppitt Bloodstock and Lynque.

Public Attention was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s close friend, the late Sir Patrick Hogan, in partnership with wife Lady Hogan. Offered by Carlaw Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, he was bought by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $160,000.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr tested the black-type waters with Public Attention in the spring, finishing fifth in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m), second in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and fifth in the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Saturday’s Eskimo Prince Stakes suggested that a much-improved Public Attention has returned to action for his autumn preparation. After sitting just behind the front-running Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), Public Attention sprinted stylishly in the straight and edged away to beat that rival by just over a length. There was a similar margin back to the third-placed Gatsby’s (Snitzel).

“He’s a stunning colt,” winning jockey Chad Schofield said. “I’ve loved him since the first time I rode him at trackwork, and then obviously I was really impressed with his two trials.

“He’s just a beautiful colt with a great attitude, great action. He’s lovely to ride and it was great to see him do that today over a distance like that, because he’s only going to get better when he gets over further.

“He just jumped, put himself on the speed and dropped the bridle as well. I just love the way he flattened out down the straight and was very strong through the line.

“He wobbled a little bit around the corner the first time the Sydney way, but I just waited for him to gather himself, and then he just kept lengthening really nicely, and he gave me a terrific feel.”

Public Attention is trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

“I've said to the Coolmore boys that he's a better physical horse this time in,” Price said.

“We were nursing a little bit of shin soreness after each run last time in. Even after the Caulfield Guineas, where he did have every chance, he still pulled up like an immature three-year-old.

“We did our best with him last preparation, but he's a better horse this time in and you saw the benefit of that.

“I think the second horse is nearly a Group One horse and I think it is going to be good form. So he goes to the Hobartville (Group Two, 1400m) next and then into the Randwick Guineas (Group One, 1600m).

“If you have a look at his family, it's one of Sir Patrick Hogan's families and it's a beautiful 1600-metre New Zealand family. I think he's got 1600 metres written all over him.”

Public Attention is out of Legramor (NZ) (Commands), whose dam Katie Lee (Pins) is the only horse in history to win both the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).