Attrition kicks off spring campaign in the 2025 PB Lawrence Stakes

Trainer Mitchell Freedman is optimistic ahead of Attrition’s spring campaign, starting in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Despite the trip being shorter than ideal, the six-year-old entire is reportedly in career-best order for a fresh tilt.

“I’m really happy with him,” Freedman said. “He had a good spell leading into this preparation which he hadn’t had in a while. He looks super in his condition, his work has been really good. The 1400 is probably right at the bottom end of his liking, but I’ve never had him looking this good going into a first-up run. He prefers it dry, but a little bit of cut out of the ground is not going to hurt him at all, and I expect him to run well.”

Attrition’s sole first-up win was in a Geelong maiden early in his career. Last year he resumed with a runner-up finish in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks before tackling the P B Lawrence Stakes, running fifth to Mr Brightside. His spring peaked with second in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley and a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Toorak Handicap.

During last year’s spring, Freedman campaigned him in Sydney where he landed the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) and finished a luckless fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m). That has him set for another shot at the Hill Stakes in October.

“We’re planning on travelling him back up to Sydney for the Hill Stakes,” Freedman said. “He was very good in that last year and then he was unlucky in the Five Diamonds. He races well that way of going and he seems to handle the travel no worries. Then we may aim to dream a little higher later in the spring if he’s going well enough.”

Beau Mertens, who has partnered Attrition in both major wins, will again take the reins on Saturday.

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