Atticus Finch will be out to become the first since El Picha in the 1999/2000 season to land the Summer Cup and the July in the same season (JC Photos).
Alec Laird was philosophical about the setback which could keep Fire Attack out for the whole Champions Season, but he still has a couple of other Champions Season campaigns to look forward to.
He said Atticus Finch was finding a mile too far for him these days let alone the 1400m of his preparation run on Sunday, where he only got going when the race was over. Alec said this Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup-winning son of Master Of My Fate was not a good traveller so would likely run in the Jubilee over 1800m in Johannesburg as his final July preparation run and said he might then come down to KZN a week before the July to give him a chance to recover in case he did not travel well. Alec was glad to see See It Again running well in his last race as that would give Atticus Finch a weight of 57kg as things stand in the July and he felt that would give him a chance.
He said he had hoped for a better run on Sunday for Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway in an 1800m event at Turffontein Standside. He said he had needed the run a bit and added he was glad he had not fallen away like he did in his last run. However, he said his July participation would depend on how he went in he Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on 24 May at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
