Trainer Mitch Freedman is uncertain if Attrition will kick off his campaign at Rosehill this weekend, but a trip to Sydney later in the year is a definite for the talented galloper.
The Hill Stakes, scheduled for October 10, remains the major spring objective for the Group 1 winner, according to the Ballarat-based trainer.
Attrition, a winner of the Group 2 Hill Stakes in 2024 and a runner-up to Lindermann last year, will again have the $2 million, 1900m feature as his grand final.
“The Grand Final is the Hill Stakes again and whatever happens after that is a bonus,” Freedman stated.
“He’s very similar to what he’s been the last couple of seasons, but we’ve probably played around with his preparation a bit because we had longer to start at ground zero with him, so we’ve just been able to get a bit more work into him early on.”
“Hopefully that mean it’s pretty smooth sailing with him from the get-go.”
Along with a nomination for the $200,000 Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill, Attrition is also nominated for Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
His last start was an eleventh placing in the Carlyon Cup (1600m) on February 7, which followed a last-place finish first-up in the Barton Stakes (1400m).
“He wasn’t showing us anything at home that would suggest that he wasn’t going to run any good at the races, so it was a bit of a welcome relief when he had a bit of a virus coming out of that second run and it just gave us a reason why he might not have been at his best last prep,” Freedman explained.
It hasn’t been straightforward for Freedman’s other Rosehill entrant, Asakura, either. The gelding fell ill after returning from a spell following his fourth in The Kiwi on March 7.
However, Freedman was pleased with Asakura’s performance in two jumpouts in late July. Asakura, a son of Churchill like Attrition, will be given every chance to earn a start in the $10 million Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.
“He’s still a little bit immature, so anything he does over the next 12 months is a bonus and we’d be expecting him to improve as he gets older,” Freedman commented.
“He’s a nice horse and he’s got ability so if he can’t get it done this prep then we can certainly be happy that we’ve got a nice horse and look to improve in preps down the track.”
Prior to his run in The Kiwi, Asakura was the runner-up to Sixties in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m). He is entered for the 1200m BM94 at Rosehill, the Group 3 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and the 1400m BM90 at Caulfield.
Another notable entry for Freedman this weekend is Sharaz, the impressive debut winner at Bendigo. Sharaz is slated for the $200,000 Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m), though Freedman is considering a trial for the horse before his next race.
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