The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Public Attention is set to compete in a lucrative slot race in New Zealand.

Public Attention will run in the Ozzie Kheir slot for The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8, ruling out a start in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on the same day. He will join Evaporate from the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will, and J.D. Hayes.

Trainer Mick Price initially aimed for the Guineas but ultimately decided to take the New Zealand route.

Public Attention has been racing in Sydney this campaign, securing victory in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick on February 8 before finishing fourth behind Broadsiding in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) last Saturday.

Bred in New Zealand, the decision to target the Kiwi race came after discussions with Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier.

“Tom Magnier called me and mentioned several reasons for making the switch,” Price told RSN.

“He’s got a strong New Zealand pedigree, being a son of Written Tycoon, and he’s already a Stakes winner over 1200 metres. He’s in top form, a magnificent type, and some Kiwi studs have shown interest in him.

“The prize money is outstanding, it’s a three-year-old race like the Randwick Guineas, but 1500 metres at Ellerslie might be a better fit, and he’d likely start as a second or third pick. The Guineas looks a tougher race.

“If he wins, a good New Zealand stud might make a move for him.”

Price noted that Public Attention had a wide draw in the Hobartville Stakes and ran out of energy in the final 100m after racing forward.

“With the blinkers on, he got keen and raced up front. That early effort took a toll, and I could tell halfway through the race that he might run out of gas, which happened in the last 100 metres,” Price said.

Public Attention will travel to New Zealand on Sunday and be stabled at the Cambridge Stud training facility, with Wiremu Pinn booked to ride.

“I had a good association with Wiremu when he was in Australia,” Price added.