Attrition may not have a strong first-up winning record and the 1400m journey may be at the lesser end of his preferred journey, but trainer Mitchell Freedman is looking forward to the horses return at Caulfield.
The Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes on Saturday will be Attrition’s spring return and Freedman said the six-year-old entire has never been in better shape.
“I’m really happy with him,” Freedman said.
“He had a good spell leading into this preparation which he hadn’t had in a while. He looks super in his condition, his work has been really good.
“The 1400 (metres) is probably right at the bottom end of his liking, but I’ve never had him looking this good going into a first-up run.
“He prefers it dry, but a little bit of cut out of the ground is not going to hurt him at all, and I expect him to run well.”
Attrition’s only success first-up was in a Geelong maiden to start his second preparation while last spring he kicked off his campaign in Adelaide, running second in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks.
In the spring of 2023, Attrition ran in the P B Lawrence Stakes, finishing fifth to Mr Brightside, before going on to run second in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley and then later in the campaign clinching his sole Group 1 win in Toorak Handicap.
Last spring, Freedman travelled Attrition to Sydney, where he claimed the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill before running an unlucky fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill
Freedman is planning a return trip to chase the $2 million purse again in the Hill Stakes in October.
“We’re planning on travelling him back up to Sydney for the Hill Stakes,” Freedman said.
“He was very good in that last year and then he was unlucky in the Five Diamonds. He races well that way of going and he seems to handle the travel no worries.
“Then we may aim to dream a little higher later in the spring if he’s going well enough.”
Beau Mertens, who has combined with Attrition in his big race wins in the Toorak Handicap and Hill Stakes successes, has the ride on Saturday.
