“He’s come back well and I’m happy with everything he’s doing but the weight and the barrier make it a big task for him. He’ll have to go back from his outside draw,” said Freedman of the $14 chance in Sportsbet’s market, who will be ridden by John Allen.
Last spring, Attrition raced in three states.
After finishing last in a field of four in the Feehan Stakes, Attrition then had two runs in Sydney, winning the G2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill and then running fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at the same track.
Attrition then headed to Perth and finished 11th in the Northerly Stakes after having a wide run throughout.
As Attrition performed well when stepped up to a middle-distance last campaign, Freedman’s focus is the G1 Australian Cup on March 29, via the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 1 and then the G2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 15.
“It’s good to have him back at the races. He’s got some big targets,” Freedman said.
Attrition is nominated for the All-Star Mile, but Freedman thinks the 2023 Toorak Handicap winner, who had a recent jumpout at Horsham which pleased his trainer, will be better suited over a longer journey.
“He’s in the All-Star Mile. We’ll wait and see how he goes on Saturday to see if we change our plan,” Freedman said.
- Racing.com News Desk
