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By Ray Hickson

It’s not lost on trainer Mitchell Freedman that his Group 1 winner Attrition has the form lines that suggest he’ll be a major player in Saturday’s $10 million James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

The past two Golden Eagle winners - I’m Thunderstruck in 2021 and I Wish I Win last year - contested the Toorak Handicap, with the former winning both races, and that’s a source of encouragement as the 34-year-old chases his biggest win and his first in Sydney.

Beau Mertens, who also notched his first at Group 1 win in the Toorak, makes the trip to Sydney to continue his association with Attrition.

“It’s been a great form race for it so hopefully we can follow in those other horses’ footsteps,’’ Freedman said.

“We have a good handle on the program and on the history of the race, it’s a good guide and that three week break between the mile and 1500m seems to serve them well.

"Beau’s riding in great form and with great confidence.

“It’s four-year-olds only and in his right distance range, it’s very hard to pass up. It’s certainly a big carrot and we’ve been drawn to it.”

ATTRITION KICKS BACK TO WIN THE TOORAK HANDICAP! 🔥

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

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

Despite being a last start Group 1 winner Attrition has flown a little under the radar as a $13 chance with TAB prior to the barrier draw.

He has the scalp of early favourite Amelia’s Jewel, who was unplaced as favourite in the Toorak, and Freedman said he’s been well schooled in clockwise racing on the training track.

And he still has a healthy respect for the WA mare.

“He’s had a few gallops in the Sydney direction and he’s handled it really well. He’ll get through a piece of work on Tuesday morning and we’ll head up Thursday,’’ he said.

“I’m happy for him to be under the radar, I don’t think he needs to prove any more. He’s a Group 1 winner and I’m looking forward to seeing him go around.

“They’re all entitled to an off day, we had one in the Underwood and (Amelia’s Jewel) had one the other day. No doubt she will bounce back to her best.”

The four-year-old came of age earlier in the year when narrowly beaten by Kiwi mare Legarto, also set to line up in the Golden Eagle, in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and prior to his Toorak win wasn’t beaten far by Mr Brightside first-up in the spring.

Freedman is comfortable with Attrition’s ability to adapt to whatever happens in the Golden Eagle but naturally would like any favours the barrier draw hands him in the big field around Rosehill.

“Ideally you want to draw better than he has been drawing but he has a bit of versatility and we’ll play the cards dealt to us,’’ he said.

“At the moment he sits top of the tree in my training career, having won a Group 1, he’s been a great horse to deal with and we’re looking forward to seeing how he handles the Golden Eagle.”

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