Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman is set to test Attrition over 2000m for the first time, with the talented gelding stepping up to the trip in the Australian Cup at Flemington this Saturday.
The Australian Cup has attracted an elite field, with proven front-runners Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge expected to set a fast pace. Alongside them, Middle Earth, Light Infantry Man, and Australian Guineas winner Feroce add further depth to the race, making it one of the strongest renewals in years.
“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.”
Despite limited experience beyond a mile, Freedman believes Attrition is well-equipped to handle the test. He struggled over 1800m in the Underwood Stakes and Northerly Stakes but excelled over 1900m in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill.
With two runs under his belt this campaign, including a second-place finish in the Blamey Stakes (1600m), Freedman believes he is reaching peak fitness.
“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 path beyond the Australian Cup remains open-ended, with Freedman considering a well-earned break after a long spring campaign.
“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.”
