One to Watch – Sandown

Tara Madgwick - Thursday January 12

With so much action at the Magic Millions it’s hard to keep an eye on the r acing as well, but it was impossible to miss the win of this exciting three year-old colt by Churchill (IRE).

Churchill (IRE) colt Attrition was impressive winning at Sandown - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Trained by Mitchell Freedman, Attrition was placed at his only two previous starts in July last year, but gave the signal of better things to come when charging home from the back of the field at Sandown in the 1400m maiden.

He let down with a sizzling turn of foot for Jarrod Fry to win by nearly three lengths running away.

Mitch Freedman has been working on the colt since last winter and has high hopes for the future.

“I think he will be better at four and five, but we have a bit of an autumn campaign mapped out for him,” said Mitch Freedman, who is obviously thinking Australian Guineas for the talented colt.

Winning rider Jarrod Fry was super impressed with Attrition, who carries the colours of Colin McKenna’s Halo Racing Services.

Advertisement

"First go at that trip I wanted to mark sure he ran it out, but the horse has a dynamic turn of foot," Fry commented.

"I rode him in a piece of work for Mitch and then jumped him out and the horse has given me a really nice feel.

"I could feel it waiting for me to pull the trigger and when I did, I knew I was well and truly going to go past them."

Attrition was a $180,000 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainer from the Mill Park draft and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Royal Rumble being the sixth winner from terrific producer Queen’s Kiss, who produced another colt by Churchill last spring.

The first Churchill yearling to be offered in Australia this year was sold at Magic Millions on Wednesday with Merrick Staunton paying $220,000 for Valiant Stud’s handsome chestnut colt from winning Exceed and Excel mare Silverscreen Queen.

The first Churchill yearling offered at Magic Millions sold for $220,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Surprise Leigh Mdn 1400m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:24.70
1
Attrition
- 3c Churchill (IRE) x Queen's Kiss (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Jarrod Fry 58
2
2.8
Brazen Kingdom
- 3g Iffraaj (GB) x Cool 'N' Sassy (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
3
3.3
Memphis Shadow
- 3g American Pharoah (USA) x Without A Shadow (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: A W Noonan Rdr: J Noonan 58
4
4.0
Skinny Dip
- 4g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Savodara (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms R Mangan Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 58
5
6.7
Normandy Belle
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Holly Holy (NZ) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
6
7.5
Never Dance
- 4g No Nay Never (USA) x Dance Of The Ocean (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Fred W Kersley 59.5
7
7.7
Hurricane Ketut
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Kiss Me Ketut (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: D Oliver 58
8
9.7
Mirroring
- 3c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Doagain (AUS) (Falbrav (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
9
10.4
Think Rock
- 3g Jukebox (AUS) x Scottish Queen (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
10
11.4
Cryptic Clue
- 3g All Too Hard (AUS) x Very Puzzling (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: J Mott 58
11
13.7
Bedford Estate
- 4h Tavistock (NZ) x Lovetessa (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Lucinda Boyd Rdr: M Zahra 59.5
More Reading...
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
Attrition Wins $2million G2 Hill Stakes
On this day last year talented Churchill (IRE) stallion Attrition defeated Antino to win the Group I MRC Toorak Handicap (1600m) and while that rival returned to Caulfield to avenge his defeat on Saturday , Mitch Freedman elected to chase the big prizemoney on offer in Sydney with happy results.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
First Australian G1 Winner for Churchill
Galileo’s champion son Churchill (IRE) has sired a couple of outstanding Northern Hemisphere multiple Group I winners in Vadeni and Blue Rose Cen and now he has one in Australia with talented four year-old stallion Attrition arriving in the last stride to win the $1million Group I MRC Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Three on the Trot for Zousain 3YO
The Paul Shailer stable has been flying over the winter carnival and one of the stable stars has been Zousain gelding Mister Bianco, who made it three wins in succession when taking out the $150,000 Schweppes TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.