Memsie bypass primes Attrition for Feehan Stakes
Attrition will chase a Group 2 win over tough weight-for-age performers in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.
Bypassing last Saturday's Memsie Stakes might have created an opportunity for a career-best win for Attrition in Saturday's Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley.
Attrition did it tough out wide when resuming in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield last month but fought on well to finish two lengths from Mr Brightside.
"We thought he would measure up to that level," Attrition's trainer Mitch Freedman said.
"Things didn't go right for him but he was still there fighting away in the last bit.
"I thought he was entitled to drop off in the last furlong but he stuck his head out and wanted to be involved in it so that was pleasing to see.
"I'm sure those fighting qualities will take him a long way."
Mr Brightside went on to win last Saturday's Memsie Stakes with a brave effort of his own but Attrition's trainer Mitchell Freedman said another seven days would help his promising stallion.
Mitchell Freedman has earmarked the Group 1 Toorak Handicap for Attrition after Saturday's Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.
"I just thought that was a hard run first-up from a spell and I thought the three weeks between runs was the right thing to do by him," Freedman said.
"He bounced through it but I thought, to get to our goals, which are still a little bit away, we could give him three weeks before we brought him back to the races."
Attrition was one of the most improved racehorses in Australia in the autumn, progressing from a maiden win at Sandown in January to go down narrowly in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in March.
The Feehan Stakes offers a Cox Plate exemption to the winner but Freedman said a crack at The Valley's greatest race could wait 12 months.
"It (the Cox Plate) is not our goal at the moment to get to that race because there's some other races at handicap level for him," Freedman said.
"He might get to that level next season but we're looking at the Toorak Handicap and those sorts of races."
TAB posted Attrition at $8 in its opening ‘all-in' betting on the Feehan Stakes.
Unbeaten galloper Globe is a $3 favourite ahead of Hinged at $6.
