Trainer Mitchell Freedman hunts $2 million Five Diamonds with stable star Attrition

After earning his biggest career payday last start, Mitchell Freedman has returned to Sydney to target another lucrative feature.

Trainer Mitchell Freedman concedes stable star Attrition will need to improve again if he is to complete another big money Sydney raid in Saturday’s Listed $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Freedman landed the biggest payday of his training career – and Attrition his first win in almost a year – when he held off Kovalica to claim the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) last month.

The son of Churchill snared Freedman’s first career Group 1 on the same day 12 months earlier when he took out the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

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Freedman has taken Attrition home to Victoria since his last run and heads into the Five Diamonds a month between runs.

“He was really good last start but I think he is going to face stiffer opposition in this,” Freedman said.

“He will need to improve again but he has had a good time between runs and I am really happy with him going into Saturday.

“We had a month between runs so gave him a trial and something a bit stimulating for him.

“I think getting him away from home and giving him a solid piece of work was good for him.”

Attrition takes the G2 Hill Stakes in fine style!@Freedmanmitch | @beau_mertens | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/6OAKhuMgTy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

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Attrition hadn’t placed in his two starts leading into the Hill Stakes but Freedman always had faith in his star’s ability.

The Group 1 winner has been a revelation for his stable and has already banked more than $2.1 million for Freedman and his connections.

“Attrition has been a great horse for our stable,” Freedman said.

“He has touched off in some good races by small margins and won some good ones for us too.

“He has been a good horse for us and hopefully he can hang around a bit longer.”

Ethan Brown will take over the ride on Attrition for the first time after Beau Mertens rode him at his past seven starts.

A capacity field of 14 runners with six emergencies was declared for the feature event including international raider Docklands, trained by Harry Eustace.

Attrition is the $6 favourite from the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann ($6.50), Bjorn Baker’s Iknowastar ($6.50) and Paul Niceforo’s Territory Express ($6.50).

Trainer Mitchell Freedman is chasing two Sydney feature wins in a row. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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Freedman had also nominated Ceerseven for the Five Diamonds but decided to accept in the James Squire Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) with Brown booked to ride.

There is the option of racing in Melbourne where the son of Complacent is an acceptor in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

“He is accepted in Melbourne as well after we saw they were pretty light on for numbers up there,”

“We will have a look and assess our options.

“He is going really well the horse and was able to win up there last time.

“I think he’s going better this preparation.”

The Five Diamonds card is supported by the Group 3 $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) which nine juveniles will attempt to ensure a berth in next year’s Golden Slipper.

The Invitation winner Belclare will hunt back-to-back feature victories in the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).

Originally published as Trainer Mitchell Freedman hunts $2 million Five Diamonds with stable star Attrition