A confidence-boosting trial at Horsham has helped get Attrition’s spring campaign back on track following his luckless first-up run at Caulfield.

The Mitchell Freedman-trained entire was badly hampered and finished at the tail of the field in the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 16. To restore momentum, Freedman sent him to a Horsham hit-out before giving him another strong gallop at Moonee Valley this week.

Attrition is now set to resume his program in the Group 2 So You Think Stakes (1500m) at The Valley on Saturday.

“I was rapt with the work he did at Horsham,” Freedman said. “Alana Kelly partnered him there. She said he was a little hesitant to go into a gap, but when she gave him a squeeze he quickened into it. That was pleasing to see, so he’s had that good experience since Caulfield where he was the meat in the sandwich, but he’s bounced through it. The interference was quite significant, so it was good to see him come through it well. We’re looking forward to Saturday and he’s going to be better the further he gets out in trip.”

Freedman is confident the stallion is now on track for a successful spring, with the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on October 11 again on the radar. Attrition won the $2 million feature last year and connections are eager to return.

“He’s got a program set in place and there are a few little left and right turns we can take along the way, but the Hill Stakes, the race he won last year, has a target around it,” Freedman said. “He races well up there and that distance seems to suit him well. I think it might have been the one that got away from a few people last year, so it might be a bit stronger this year, but we’ll go and take our chance again.”

Punters can find markets for the So You Think Stakes and the Hill Stakes through Australia’s leading betting sites.