How to activate an Automator application with AppleScript?

Why does this fail to open the application?

try
    open application "Macintosh HD:Users:TheUser:Desktop⁩⁩:Automator test 2"
on error
    display dialog "could not open the automator"
end try

I've also tried the following:

tell application "Macintosh HD:Users:TheUser:Desktop⁩⁩:Automator test 2" to activate

tell application "finder" to activate "Macintosh HD:Users:TheUser:Desktop⁩⁩:Automator test 2"

The file path is correct and the application works when activated manually.

Solution 1:

I was being stupid. This version works:

tell application "Finder"
    try
        open "Macintosh HD:Users:TheUser:Desktop⁩⁩:Automator test 2"
    on error
        display dialog "could not open the automator"
    end try
end tell

Just have to use the tell finder command and open instead of open application.