Attrition in line for G1 Northerly Stakes honours

Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman has headed to Perth to put the finishing touches on Attrition ahead of a Group 1 assault at Ascot.

Attrition is set to run in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, his first run since finishing fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 9.

Freedman made the trip to Perth on Sunday but has been buoyed by progress reports on his star performer since the gelding headed west last month.

He said Attrition had become an accustomed traveller who has thrived.

“He hasn’t missed any feed over there and he’s settled in really well,” Freedman said.

“He just seems to have thrived on the travel the whole prep. He’s done a few trips now, but it doesn’t seem to have affected him.”

Attrition will have his final gallop on Tuesday morning having had a trial at Belmont last week.

While comfortably beaten in the 1000m hitout, Freedman said Attrition’s sectionals in the trial were what pleased him.

“It was in a fast horse’s jump-out and he was actually very good albeit beaten a few lengths by what some people would consider below his standard of ability,” Freedman said.

“Ripcord is no slouch, and he (Attrition) is a horse that is looking for 1800 or 2000 metres.

“He has got the freshness out of his legs, but his sectionals were very good and the way he came through it, it was the right thing for us to do getting over there and having a month between runs.”

Attrition won the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in October before returning to that track when fourth in the Five Diamond.

Freedman said Attrition did not have a lot of luck in his most recent appearance.

“You would expect if he brings those two Sydney runs, the form he was in up there, it should have him very competitive in the Northerly,” Freedman said.

“He’ll come home after Saturday, have a break and get ready for the autumn.

“We have no set plans (for the autumn). He’s been over 1900 metres, so we’d like to get him to 2000 metres and maybe further at some point, but he doesn’t like wet ground, so you’ve got to be a bit wary of that.

“We’ll place him as we see fit.”

Beau Mertens, who steered Attrition to victory in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield last year and was also aboard in the Hill Stakes, will ride Attrition in Saturday’s race.