Mitchell Freedman is upbeat ahead of Attrition’s spring launch in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, confident his stable star is in peak condition. While 1400 metres is on the short side for the six-year-old entire, Freedman believes his charge has never looked better for a first-up assignment.

“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 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 lone first-up victory came in a Geelong maiden early in his career. Last year, he resumed with a second in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks. In the spring of 2023, he contested the P B Lawrence Stakes, finished fifth to Mr Brightside, then placed second in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley before sealing his maiden Group 1 triumph in the Toorak Handicap.

Freedman sent him to Sydney last spring where he captured the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill and finished an unlucky fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m). That effort has the trainer planning another Hill Stakes tilt 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.”

Regular rider Beau Mertens, who guided Attrition to his Toorak Handicap and Hill Stakes wins, retains the mount on Saturday.

Punters keen to bet on the P B Lawrence Stakes should check the leading Australian betting sites for competitive odds and special offers.