The Cox Plate dream of Mitchell Freedman is about to come to fruition.
Freedman will saddle Attrition in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday looking to score an upset win.
Attrition sits alongside Light Infantry Man as the $34 outsiders in the eight-horse Cox Plate field that is headed by last year’s champion Via Sistina as the $2.20 market leader.
The six-year-old son of Churchill may not have the credentials of some of the better performed horses in this year’s race, and may not have won in over 12 months, but he is a consistent galloper who deserves his shot at the big-time.
Attrition is coming off a last start second in the Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, a race he won last year, on October 11 which followed a closing third to Pride Of Jenni in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 26.
“We always had it pencilled in that we would try and go to the race this year,” Freedman said.
“It’s been a dream to have a runner in the race, and we’ve shared that dream with the owners.
“He ran really well the last time, and he’s been in and around the mark at weight-for-age for a long time now and he deserves a crack at it.”
At Rosehill last time out, race rider Kerrin Mcevoy made a bold move to put Attrition into the race after settling further back than had been intended.
It saw Attrition end up racing outside the in-form Lindermann who went on to win the Hill Stakes.
“That was pretty bold by Kerrin McEvoy,” Freedman said.
“I don’t reckon there would have been too many riders do what he did. It was a bold move, it worked out well and he really stuck on and his work near the line was really super.
“I’ve been really happy with him since and we’re really looking forward to the Cox Plate.”
Craig Williams has the ride on Saturday.
