Attrition ahead of the 2024 Northerly Stakes

Group 1 winner Attrition is on target for more success at the top level in Saturday’s TABtouch-Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, according to trainer Mitchell Freedman.

The five-year-old enters the $1.5 million event off the back of a last start fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill last month.

Attrition scored one of the biggest wins of his career at the start prior in the $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) at the same venue.

Mitchell Freedman said Attrition was enjoying his time in Perth.

“He’s great,” Freedman told TABradio.

“We took him to Lark Hill this morning to give him a little stretch of the legs there.

“He worked really well.

“He will head to the beach in the morning as recovery from his gallop this morning.

“Everything seems to be in order heading towards Saturday.”

Attrition finished five lengths behind Ripcord in a trial at Belmont last week.

Despite finishing at the tail of the field, Freedman said he was encouraged by the effort.

“We were very happy with what we saw in that trial and everything that has happened since,” he said.

“He was looking for a bit further than those horses.”

Attrition scored his maiden victory in last year’s Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, where he beat the likes of Antino and Amelia’s Jewel.

He had his fourth start for the campaign on that occasion.

The son of Churchill will have his sixth start for the campaign in Saturday’s Weight-For-Age event.

Freedman said the last start effort was enough to convince him there was more to come this campaign from Attrition.

“We had it in the back of our mind that if we wanted to extend the prep the horse was in suitable condition to do so,” he said.

“We’ve seen he can handle the month between runs and run well still.

“I think the horse is in terrific order and everything he’s showing us suggests he will run to his best on Saturday.”