Attrition After Golden Pay Day Despite Wide Draw

The Mitchell Freedman trained Attrition (Churchill-Queen's Kiss, by French Deputy) will rely on all the skill in the world of jockey Beau Mertens after the 4YO stallion prospect drew barrier 19 of 20 in Saturday's $10m Golden Eagle at Rosehill. A winner of the Toorak Handicap last start where the Mill Park Stud yearling graduate secured an elusive Gr1 victory, Freedman will be hoping that history repeats as the last two winners of the lucrative Golden Eagle; I Wish I Win (Savabeel) and I'm Thunderstruck (Shocking) have both came through the Toorak to win $10m 4yo feature. Based on that thought process alone, another runner in the field who is surely going to be hard to beat is Western Australia's superstar mare Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni-Bumbasina, by Canford Cliffs) who disappointed in the Toorak when finishing ninth as the short-priced favourite. By all reports the 4yo mare has impressed in her recent work and looks to be back on track. When last in Australia, the Ken and Bev Kelso trained Legarto (Proisir-Geordie Girl, by Towkay) got the better of Attrition to win the Gr1 Australian Guineas. Resuming in September with a third in the Gr1 Tarzino Trophy, the mare then won the Listed Matamata Cup, and if she can cope with the drop back to 1400m, she has proven in the past she is a high-quality runner and should be competitive. An interesting runner is the Chris Waller-trained import Age Of Kings (Kingman-Turret Rocks, by Fastnet Rock) who will be having his first Australian start. Secured by Waller from Coolmore's Ballydoyle operation following his win in the Gr3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, the stallion prospect will race in the cerise silks of the Ingham family. UPDATE: Attrition has suffered a hoof injury and is out of the Golden Eagle.

Attrition (inside) may struggle from his bad marble (pic: Mark Gatt)