Supporters of Attica will not have to wait long to see the Group 1-winning colt back in action, with the talented three-year-old set to return to the trials this Friday.

The Lonhro colt is well advanced in his build-up to the Autumn Carnival and will have his first hit-out in what is expected to be the opening of three trials at his home track of Warwick Farm.

Attica has not been seen publicly since his impressive victory in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 25, a win that came less than two months after his debut, and trainer Joe Pride said the short break has done the colt the world of good.

“He only had a short let-up and I’ve been really happy with him,” he said.

“It was all in his first racing preparation last time around, but he’s made some nice improvement and I’m really pleased with the way he’s moving along.”

The Spring Champion Stakes success was Attica’s third win from just four starts.

He is being prepared for a return to racing in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21.

Raced by Godolphin, whose royal blue silks are also carried by Victoria Derby winner Observer, Attica has the Randwick Guineas pencilled in as his initial Group 1 target, although Pride said plans beyond the 1600-metre event on March 7 remain flexible.

“He’ll more than likely have three trials and he’ll be in the Hobartville first-up,” Pride said.

“We just have to be guided by how he goes in those first few runs.”

Attica’s second trial is scheduled for Warwick Farm on January 22, a session that is also expected to mark the return of his star stablemate Ceolwulf.

The Tavistock gelding stamped himself as Australia’s leading miler late last spring with wins in the King Charles III Stakes and the Champions Mile at Flemington, and Pride said that first trial would be the opening step in a campaign yet to be fully mapped out.

“It will be a similar plan with him this time around, we’ll get some racing into him and see where he’s at.”

Ceolwulf resumed last autumn with a fourth placing in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), recorded his best Group 1 effort when third in the George Ryder Stakes, and claimed his sole win in the Neville Sellwood Stakes over 2000 metres.

The post Friday return for G1 winner Attica first appeared on Just Horse Racing.