While it’s been quite a while between drinks for Mitch Freedman’s Attrition, the son of Churchill (IRE) has shown he has a distinct liking for the $2m G2 ATC Hill Stakes (1800m), winning the race in 2024, finishing second in 2025, before adding a second victory in the race on Saturday.
Having not tasted success since this race in 2024, Attrition has run some outstanding races including a fourth in the G1 WS Cox Plate behind Via Sistina, and more recently finishing third last time out in the G1 Underwood Stakes behind Birdman (IRE) and Cosmic Crusader (NZ).
With his preparation meticulously planned to peak fourth up in the Hill Stakes, the G1-winning stallion prospect was well-supported in the betting to sit on the third line behind last year’s winner Lindermann who started the short price favourite.
As Nash Rawiller jumped Lindermann away quickly to go forward to take the lead in his usual racing pattern, the Ciaron Maher trained Eliyass (FR) raced in second with Attrition back in third.
Leading as he liked, Lindermann was full of running as the field headed for home where jockey Jamie Mott was one of the first to get going as he asked Attrition for an effort before the turn.
Still in the lead with 200m to run, it appeared as if it would be a repeat of last year’s result with Lindermann defeating Attrition, but the Melbourne visitor had other things on his mind as he dug deep right on the line to get his head in front.
Attrition bobs and gets the win in the G2 Hill Stakes for his first win in 727 days! ?? His last win was the Hill Stakes two years ago! @jamieleemott @Freedmanmitch https://t.co/MRrHLyNwbC
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 10, 2026
Having been targeted at the race, trainer Mitchell Freedman was over-joyed to see the plan come to fruition.
“It has been a target race for us with this horse. We’ve been so confident in the lead up to the run, the way he was going, the way he was tracking, the way he travelled up. Thanks to (fellow trainer) Ciaron Maher for having us at his amazing facility there at Crown Lodge.”
“He’s a seven-year-old now. He hasn’t had a heap of racing, but he’s had plenty of racing at the top level.
“It’s not too many times he’s out of that weight-for-age level and he keeps showing up. He’s a beautiful, sound horse. He’s got the best temperament that you’ll ever come across and he’s a much-loved member of our team, that’s for sure.
“It was obviously a really competitive race up there on speed. The first three in running were first three across the line. Nash rated his horse to perfection, Jamie Mott pulled out at the right time, and it was a good duel the last fifty metres.”
"When they went past me I could see him start to put his head in front and it’s such a good feeling. These are the things you soak up. It’s what you do it for, and we’ll certainly enjoy it.”
When asked if he would be back next year, Freedman said “We’ll mark it in the calendar, mark it as the fourth-up run and do our best.”
Having only ridden the 7yo once in the past (his last start), jockey Jamie Mott was full of praise for Freedman who clearly knows how to win the race.
“He’s won it two years ago and second last year,” said Mott. “It’s a race that Mitch knows how to target with him. It’s obviously a good prizemoney race too so well done to him and his connections.”
“Nash had the clock in the head, gave his horse every chance. Getting to the furlong he still had a length and a bit on me. I was slowly getting there. Lindermann wasn’t stopping, so for my bloke to be able to get over the top of him those last few strides was amazing.”
A winner of the G1 Toorak Handicap as well as a further two wins in the G2 Hill Stakes, Attrition took his overall results to five wins and ten placed efforts from 33 starts with earnings of $4,371,700.
Purchased by his trainer for $180,000 from the Mill Park draft at the Inglis Premier yearling sale, the The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust-bred son of Churchill is a half-brother to stakes-winner Royal Rumble and is the best of seven winners from nine to race from terrific producer Queen’s Kiss, who has a yearling, full-sister to Attrition before foaling a filly by Dalasan just a few weeks back.
One of four G1 winners for Churchill amongst 43 international stakes winners, the son of Galileo has not returned to Australia since 2024, having shuttled here for seven consecutive seasons where he covered just shy of 800 mares.
