A field dominated by a lot of European-bred hard heads, Saturday’s Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill may not have excited punters although it did throw up a deserved winner in the Mathew Smith-trained Attorney (FR).
Given a ground-saving ride by Jason Collett, the lightly raced 6yo gelding finished strongly to defeat Djukon (GB) (Jukebox Jury) by one and a quarter lengths a half-head back to the winner's stablemate Grey Lion (IRE) (Galileo) back in third.
Attorney (FR) holds a nomination for next weeks Group 1 Metropolitan but Smith would not commit to a run.
“These imported horses can jump up quickly in distance, he enjoyed the gallop today and was good to the line,” Smith said.
“I think I am doing a better job with him this time in. He’s been training well and has been building up to this so it’s good to see him go and do it.
“I was happy to see him switch off. We wanted a reasonable, genuine gallop and not a stop start race. He got into a nice rhythm and looked comfortable, he got the right run and was good to the line.
“He’s in the Metrop but better judges than me can make that decision. We will go back and have a think about it.”
The OTI colour-bearer had some decent form in Europe when trained in France by Mikel Delzangles.
He won his first two starts in Australia at Newcastle and Canterbury but had been winless in his past six starts.
A €52,000 purchase by David Revers at the 2016 October Yearling Sale, Attorney (FR) is the best of two winners from three to race out of the winning Montjeu mare Tia Kia a half-sister to Commodore (Danehill) a stakes-winner in India, and the stakes-placed Nolohay (Dubawi) out of the Group III winning Singspiel mare Antioquia.
Attorney (FR) becomes the 33rd stakes-winner for the former NZ shuttler Makfi (Dubawi).
