On Saturday, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable unveiled another promising prospect in the Kiwi-bred Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) at Caulfield.
The striking grey, carrying Coolmore’s navy blue silks, was impressive. Ridden by Ethan Brown, the colt travelled strongly and surged to the front, finishing ahead of Ndola (Justify {USA}) and Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach {USA}).
Nick Fairweather and Nicole Brown
Post-race, co-trainer Price was candid in his remarks. “When something wins, every trainer says, ‘Oh yeah, I really liked him.' But when we turn up on a Saturday in a race with proven form and horses that are ahead of us, it gives you an idea of what we felt about the horse,” he shared with Racing.com.
“We didn’t want to take Public Attention to the bush. I wanted him to qualify for the bigger races. I said to Junior (Michael Kent) this morning, he’s one of the horses we haven’t done the DNA testing on, but I think we’ll do it.
“However, without the DNA testing, I would be going to the Caulfield Guineas with him. He’s a beautiful, clean-winded horse. He was bred in New Zealand and was a lighter, backward type of horse. It took him 15 months before he started to morph into a colt. You look at him now, and he’s a beautiful horse.
“He’s a black-type horse coming.”
Jockey Ethan Brown was also complimentary of Public Attention. “He gave me a very good feeling,” he told Racing.com. “He’s a very nice horse but still very raw. Public Attention did it the hard way yesterday (Saturday).
“What I like most is how he covers the ground; he’s got a lovely action. When he got a bump from that other horse, he actually rallied. Some colts can throw in the towel when they get a bump, but he’s got some traits of a very good horse.”
“It took him (Public Attention) 15 months before he started to morph into a colt. You look at him now, and he’s a beautiful horse.” - Mick Price
The Thoroughbred Report chatted with Nick Fairweather, who operates Carlaw Park Stud alongside Nicole Brown. The operation sold Public Attention under its banner at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Product of Sir Patrick Hogan
In 2023, Carlaw Park Stud brought a draft to the Karaka complex for the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Among the draft was the colt now known as Public Attention. The son of Written Tycoon fittingly caught the eye of Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud, who paid NZ$160,000 for him.
Public Attention was bred by the legendary Sir Patrick Hogan and his wife, Lady Justine Hogan. Sir Patrick Hogan, of course, founded the historic Cambridge Stud. Experienced horseman Nick Fairweather had served under the late studmaster and, after years of working for others, branched out on his own alongside partner Nicole Brown to found Carlaw Park Stud.
Sir Patrick Hogan | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
When Hogan sold Cambridge Stud but continued breeding a few mares and selling the resultant progeny, he chose Fairweather’s Carlaw Park Stud as the ideal operation to offer his yearlings at the sales.
“Public Attention was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan. Carlaw Park Stud was doing their yearlings after he sold Cambridge Stud. To be fair, Sir Patrick was quite the fan of the colt.
“He really liked Public Attention. I’m not sure if it was because he had a soft spot for Katie’s Lee family (Public Attention’s granddam). She was a Champion 3-Year-Old and won two Guineas races in New Zealand, and Patrick just loved her.
Public Attention (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtey of New Zealand Bloodstock
“When Sir Patrick passed, all the horses went unreserved at the sales, but from memory, he had Public Attention as the pick of the lot he had bred that year. He was a really straightforward horse. Bred and born on Sir Patrick’s farm, Monarch, he came to us and was just easy and had a great temperament.”
Public Attention is the second foal from the Commands mare Legramor (NZ), who won twice. Legramor is a daughter of New Zealand’s Champion 3-Year-Old Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins), an eight-time winner who famously claimed both the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas against the colts.
Katie Lee’s dam, Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) (Spectacularphantom {USA}), was also a talented racemare, winning nine races from 1200 to 2000 metres, including the G3 Fayette Park S. and two Listed races.
Fairweather echoed Mick Price’s comments, saying, “He was a very well-balanced foal and took that to the yearling sales, but as Mick said, he was a little bit light and went through a growing phase.
Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“So, we didn’t expect to see him running, let alone winning, as a 2-year-old. The result is very welcome, though. He’s a Kiwi-bred, so winning as a juvenile, especially at Caulfield on Saturday, is really good for us.”
Legramor has an unraced rising 2-year-old by U S Navy Flag (USA) named Proud Katie (NZ). She foaled a colt by Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (NZ) and was served by the Rich Hill Stud-based Satono Aladdin (Jpn) last spring.
Coolmore come calling
You're doing alright if you have Tom Magnier looking and buying horses from you. The distinction serves as a very proud moment for Carlaw Park Stud in its relatively short history.
“It is wonderful. The whole Coolmore team looked at him (Public Attention) three or four times at the sale. I remember he paraded in outstanding order every single time for them. He just really strutted his stuff, showing his class and temperament.
Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Throughout the whole preparation, Public Attention just handled everything thrown at him. I couldn’t fault him; he was a perfect colt to prepare for a sale. He was just such a relaxed colt and didn’t have a bad bone in his body. I think that’s shown through on the track.”
Caulfield Guineas on the cards?
The prospect of having a G1 Caulfield Guineas contender sold under the Carlaw Park Stud banner is understandably exciting for Fairweather.
“To do what he did yesterday (Saturday), three wide, no cover, on debut at Caulfield—not many horses can do that. We are really excited for the future, and when Mick said he’s in the mix for the Caulfield Guineas, it makes it even more so.
“We are really excited for the future, and when Mick said he’s (Public Attention) in the mix for the Caulfield Guineas, it makes it even more so.” - Nick Fairweather
“We’re thrilled he went to a great set of trainers like Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. We’re just happy to be involved. Carlaw Park Stud has been in operation for about seven years now. We’re lucky because I worked for Sir Patrick Hogan and Marcus Corban, so I built up a lot of relationships.
“Then I was the marketing manager at Westbury Stud for four or five years before my partner, Nicole Brown, and I decided to venture out on our own. We are still building our brand but are very fortunate to have good support from some good people.
“We’ve had two Group winners from Sir Patrick Hogan horses that have gone through our banner at the sales. But if Public Attention can get that Group 1, it will be pretty special for everyone.”
