Bought through the Karaka sale ring and part-owned by Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela, classy two-year-old Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) kicked off his career on a perfect note in Saturday’s A$150,000 MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield.

That winning debut earned A$82,500 in prize-money for the grey colt, who is owned by Sir Peter Vela in partnership 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 Jr had no hesitation in sending Public Attention straight into Saturday company for his raceday debut, and the grey colt rose to the occasion in style.

After settling in fourth for jockey Ethan Brown, Public Attention lengthened stride in the straight and surged past the leaders to score a narrow but authoritative win.

“The fact that we gave him his first start here today on a Saturday, against some good horses with proven form, gives you an idea of what we felt about this colt,” Price said. “We want him qualified for the better races that are coming up.

“I would be going towards the Caulfield Guineas (Group One, 1600m) with him. He’s a beautiful, clean-winded horse.

“He was a bit of a lighter, backward type of yearling when we bought him in New Zealand, and it probably took him 15 months before he started to morph into a real colt. But if you look at him now, he’s a beautiful horse.

“Our pre-race thoughts were that he’s a black-type horse in the making, so that’s the direction we’ll be heading.”

Public Attention is by Written Tycoon, who is set to be crowned champion sire of two-year-olds on both sides of the Tasman this season.

The dam of Public Attention is 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).

Photo credit: Bruno Cannatelli