Mitch Freedman remains undecided on whether Attrition will resume at Rosehill this weekend, but a trip to Sydney later in the year is a certainty for the classy galloper.
The Ballarat trainer has again pencilled in the Hill Stakes, to be run on October 10, as the primary spring target for the Group 1 winner.
Attrition, the victor of the Group 2 Hill Stakes in 2024 and a second-place finisher behind Lindermann last year, will again target 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.”
In addition to 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.
He has not competed since finishing eleventh in the Carlyon Cup (1600m) on February 7, a run that followed his last-place performance 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 has not been a straightforward preparation for Freedman’s other Rosehill nomination, Asakura. The gelding fell ill after returning from his spell, having secured fourth place in The Kiwi on March 7.
However, Freedman was pleased with what he observed from the gelding – a son of Churchill, like Attrition – in two jumpouts during the second half of July. Asakura will be given every chance to demonstrate his worth for a shot at 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.”
Asakura’s prior start saw him finish 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.
Freedman’s other notable contender this weekend is Sharaz, who impressed with a debut victory 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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