Trainer Mitchell Freedman has been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to test Attrition over 2000m, and that moment arrives this Saturday in the prestigious Australian Cup at Flemington.

This year’s Australian Cup promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. With two strong front-runners in Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge expected to set a hot tempo, the race recalls the thrilling battles of Vo Rogue in the 1980s. The lineup also includes rising talents such as Middle Earth, Light Infantry Man, Australian Guineas champion Feroce, and the seasoned competitor Atishu.

“The race has built up nicely over the last month and it’s going to be a good solid race,” Freedman told RSN.

“It should be a great spectacle.

“Deny Knowledge and Pride Of Jenni will be up the front making the running and it will be interesting to see what the rest of the field do.”

While Attrition has had limited experience beyond 1600m, Freedman remains optimistic about his chances. The gelding had two disappointing performances over 1800m in the Underwood Stakes and Northerly Stakes but redeemed himself with a commanding victory in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) last October.

Coming into the Australian Cup third-up, Attrition appears to be peaking at the right time, having finished runner-up to Marble Arch in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at the beginning of March.

“We thought his fitness levels were pretty good coming out of the Blamey, so we’ve just kept him ticking over nicely,” Freedman said.

“He’s had a few grass gallops, and he’s improved slightly and tightened up a bit, but we were pretty happy with where he is fitness wise, and we haven’t had to do anything too extreme with him.”

Attrition’s future beyond Saturday remains undecided, with Freedman mindful of managing his workload after an extensive spring campaign that included travel to Perth.

“I am mindful after going to Perth off a longish spring that he hadn’t had much time off, so we are keen to give him a bit of a break and relieve the pressure at some point,” Freedman said.

“He does like being in work and he is showing no signs that he has had enough.

“We’re just mindful of managing the horse, like how Chris Waller manages these types of horse and how he has them hanging around at the top level for a long time.

“That’s always been our aim with him and the team at home have done a good job doing it.”