Ballarat-based Mitchell Freedman has experienced the highs and now the lows of top-level racing as last start Toorak Handicap winner Attrition has been scratched from Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Having snared his first Group 1 victory in the 1600-metre feature at Caulfield three weeks ago, Freedman today informed Racing NSW stewards that the four-year-old was found to have swelling to the right hock with some associated lameness in the same leg.

Having ridden Attrition in work on Thursday morning, he added that the son of Irish sire Churchill had not felt comfortable in his action.

Attrition was at around $30 in markets with online betting sites for the rich 1500-metres feature and would have taken on the difficult task of winning from barrier 19.

Freedman’s springtime hopes now hinge on further success with three-year-old filly Skybird who won the Group 2 Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 27, and is a $4 equal favourite for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on November 18.