Trainer Mitchell Freedman has sights on more Sydney riches after Attrition holds on to win Group 2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill

Victorian trainer Mitchell Freedman’s decision to bypass a Group 1 at Caulfield for the $2m Hill Stakes paid off as Attrition ended a 12-month drought.

Beau Mertens guides Attrition to victory in the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman masterminded a $2m coup with Attrition at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday – and he’s not finished yet.

Freedman has his eyes on more of Sydney’s spring carnival riches after Attrition lived up to his name and held off Kovalica in a thrilling Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m).

Attrition’s win came almost 12 months to the day since his last success, the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, and justified Freedman’s decision to switch his stable star to Sydney.

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“He has doubled his prizemoney in earnings today so it is a huge thrill,” Freedman said.

“We thought the Hill Stakes was a good opportunity to come up here and give him a good look at this way of going first and show him the travel. We could have gone to the Coongy Cup at Caulfield next week but we decided to have a crack at the Hill Stakes and it’s paid off.

“We had no luck getting him up here for the Golden Eagle last year so this is great for our team and all the owners.

“If he pulls up well, then we will possibly be back here for the (Listed $2m) Five Diamonds in a month’s time.”

Attrition ($26), ridden by Beau Mertens, held off the late surge of Kovalica ($4.40) to win by a half neck with early leader Royal Patronage ($3.90 favourite) two lengths away third, just in front of Pericles.

Freedman admitted he was worried when Kovalica came out after Attrition inside the final 200m.

“I was wanting that (finishing) post to come up,” Freedman said.

“Look Chris (Waller, trainer of Kovalica) probably wins enough races, so let the little guy win one!”

Freedman said Attrition appreciated getting out to 1900m and not having to chase superstar Pride Of Jenni.

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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At his most recent start, Attrition ran fourth of four behind Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni.

“I think he was just a bit sick of chasing and those faster tempos - he’s a five-year-old stallion now,” Freedman said.

“We just wanted to flow forward today. We wanted to do that last start but I just think it was just going to be all too much for him.

“With this horse, I’ve always thought further than the mile (1600m) was going to be his better trips but he’d been a bit weak to get there yet.

“So, we bided our time, we’ve stuck it to him going into the Feehan at home with the work, and then we’ve just been able to train him nicely going into this run.

“Well done to Beau, he followed him up here and it’s great to get the result.”

Mertens rode an astute race and his tactics enabled Attrition to finally return to the winner’s list.

“It has been a long journey, obviously a year to the day since winning the Toorak - we’ve been on a ride,” Mertens said.

“But he’s been unbelievable for my career, this horse. I’ve stuck by him where he’s put in a few bad ones but I’ve always had faith that he could come back.

“For him to do that (today), first time stepping up to 1900m, just unbelievable.”

Mertens was having only his second ride at Rosehill and revealed he walked the entire track with fellow Victorian jockey Harry Coffey to get a better guide on how to ride the track.

THAT WAS AWESOME! 💙💜

Pride Of Jenni runs her opposition into the ground! 🔥 @[e-mail]/i8oSg4dNbf

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 27, 2024

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“We had a few talks about it and how it is a bit of a tricky track to ride,” Mertens said.

“But when Attrition jumped so well from the gates, I was able to take him across, he did no work, and I’m not going to lie, it turns a bit this track so I was getting a bit lost.

“Then once he started to track up from the 600m on the bridle, I just knew he was going to be hard to catch.

“I’m just so happy for the horse, so happy for the team. This ownership group, they’ve stuck by me the whole time with him and I couldn’t thank them enough.”

Kovalica’s rider Zac Lloyd said his mount has “couldn’t have gone any better.”

“I wanted to hold a more prominent spot on him but he’s such a laid back horse. It would have had him out of his comfort zone but he ran fantastic,” Lloyd said.

Royal Patronage’s jockey Tim Clark said the horse made a “brave attempt” to lead all the way.

“It just took him a little while to adapt to that steadier tempo over the 1900m but I thought he was very courageous up the straight,” Clark said.

Nash Rawiller, rider of Pericles, felt the horse “didn’t finish the race off as well as he could have.”

“They went a nice genuine gallop, he was beautifully placed, going better than anything at the 300m and couldn’t round the race off,” Rawiller said.