Group 1 winner Attrition heads to Adelaide for confidence builder in Leon Macdonald Stakes

Attrition has had a few setbacks since winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last spring but heads to South Australia ready to show his best form.

The last time we saw Attrition at his peak, he snared a maiden Group 1 triumph for trainer Mitch Freedman, and the gun stallion is building back to that very form.

Last year’s Toorak Handicap winner will resume first-up at Morphettville on Saturday in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes, and after two unplaced runs earlier this year, Freedman believes his star galloper has a good foundation for a strong spring return.

“He seems in good shape, he’s not as up to the mark as what he was going into last spring, just as far as his fitness levels, (but) he’s got a good base underneath him and I expect him to improve as we get into the prep,” Freedman, who trains at Ballarat, said.

Following October’s Toorak win, Attrition ran last in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in February, spraining a fetlock.

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He was then freshened up for a run in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) in April, where he finished 10th – suffering yet another setback.

“He knocked his splint bone in that race (Victoria Handicap), he wasn’t ever lame or anything, he just aggravated that, bruised it up a little bit,” he said.

“We gave him some time to get over that, we’ve had a really good, even prep going into his first-up run this spring.”

Toorak Handicap winner will kick off his campaign in the Leon Macdonald Stakes at Morphettville. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

A trip interstate for the Leon Macdonald Stakes presented as an ideal kick-starter for the Group 1 winner’s preparation.

The son of Churchill has raced in South Australia before, debuting at Murray Bridge in 2022, running third behind Klabel.

Regular hoop Beau Mertens, who also scored a maiden Group 1 win aboard Attrition in the Toorak, will steer from barrier seven on Saturday.

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“We’re trying to build his confidence back up, with full respect, it was just a little bit softer in our mind,” he said.

“Just the appeal of taking a colt away from home, getting him into new surroundings and changing things up with him was probably what appealed to us.”

ATTRITION KICKS BACK TO WIN THE TOORAK HANDICAP! 🔥

BEAU MERTENS AND MITCH FREEDMAN GET THEIR FIRST GROUP 1!@Freedmanmitch@beau_mertenspic.twitter.com/RUOcXIRITE

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 14, 2023

Freedman has earmarked the spring targets for Attrition, and it includes a possible trip to Sydney for the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) in November.

“We’re looking at having him ready to fire in the Feehan (1600m) third-up,” Freedman said.

“He’ll go the Leon Macdonald, the So You Think (1500m) and then the Feehan at this stage depending on how he’s going and where we think we’re at.”

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Freedman admits its been a challenging period combating multiple setbacks with Attrition, but knows it goes hand-in-hand with the industry.

“I think we’ve done everything right by the horse as a team, and the ownership group as well, they’ve backed us in,” he said.

“We’re just hoping he can get back to his best form now that stuff seems to be behind him, it’s very frustrating, you can have things go your way for awhile, then things don’t go your way and you think the world’s against you.

“He seems to be back on track and hopefully we can see him back to his best this spring.”

Attrition is a $7 chance with TAB fixed odds with See You In Heaven ($2.30) race favourite for the Leon Macdonald Stakes.

Originally published as Group 1 winner Attrition heads to Adelaide for confidence builder in Leon Macdonald Stakes