Trainer Mitch Freedman is uncertain about Attrition’s resumption at Rosehill this coming weekend, but a Sydney campaign later in the year is a certainty for the talented horse.
The Ballarat conditioner has again circled the Hill Stakes, scheduled for October 10, as the major spring objective for the Group 1 winner.
The Group 2 Hill Stakes, a $2 million, 1900m event, was won by Attrition in 2024, and he finished second to Lindermann last year.
“The Grand Final is the Hill Stakes again and whatever happens after that is a bonus,” Freedman said.
“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.”
Alongside the $200,000 Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill, Attrition has been nominated for Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
His last outing was an eleventh-place finish in the Carlyon Cup (1600m) on February 7, which followed a last-place effort 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 commented.
The journey has not been without its challenges for Freedman’s other Rosehill nomination, Asakura, who fell ill after returning from his spell, having placed fourth in The Kiwi on March 7.
However, Freedman was pleased with the gelding’s performance in two jumpouts in the latter half of July. Asakura, a son of Churchill like Attrition, will be given every opportunity to prove himself worthy of 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 noted.
“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.”
Before The Kiwi, Asakura was the runner-up to Sixties in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m). He holds entries 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 made a brilliant debut win at Bendigo. Sharaz is entered for the $200,000 Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m), although Freedman is considering a trial for the horse before returning him to the races.
Check out the Australian betting sites for the upcoming Hill Stakes.
