Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman says he would like to one day call Attrition the best horse he has trained during his brief career.
Attrition heads to the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday with the possibility of a Group 1 start in the Australian Guineas (1600m), also at Flemington, two weeks later.
A veteran of four starts, for two wins and two minor placings, Attrition will be aiming to remain undefeated this campaign when he heads to Flemington.
Attrition followed a Sandown maiden win with a four-length benchmark 64 grade win under Jarrod Fry against older horses at Geelong on January 29.
It will be three weeks between runs for the three-year-old, but Freedman believes he has the galloper in ideal order for Saturday’s contest.
“We gave him a quiet time for a week or so afterwards after Geelong,” Freedman told RSN.
“He had a jump-out at Ararat last Thursday. He attacked the line and he’s had a gallop out on the course proper at Ballarat and I can’t fault him.”
Freedman said Attrition was an intelligent horse and one that keeps on improving.
“You get a nice horse and see him win by a length, but Attrition seems like he wants to get away from the pack which is a good trait to have,” Freedman said.
“I don’t think he’s gone backwards since his Geelong win and hopefully he can bring that form to the C S Hayes, and it will be interesting to see where he sits amongst those other three-year-olds.
“Jarrod was soft on him late and Geelong as he doesn’t like that shifting ground. He prefers to be on top of the ground.”
With the final field and barrier draw to be announced on Wednesday, Freedman is hoping for an inside to mid-draw to take advantage of the colt’s good gate speed.
Freedman said Attrition sat behind the speed last start whereas when successful at Sandown he drew wide and had to go right back.
“I don’t think he’s the most gifted horse I’ve come across in my training career, but he’s still improving,” Freedman said.
“But who knows where he might get to.”