Mitch Freedman has named Friday night’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) as ‘an early preparation grand final’ for his G1 winner Attrition, but he might not have expected to run into Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni when circling the race at the start of his campaign.

The Toorak Handicap winner was a narrow runner-up to Pinstriped in the same race last year and says the entire could not be in better order after a visit to the course on Monday morning.

Attrition worked home in a comfortable 25.25 seconds for the last 400 metres of his gallop, following a Donald jumpout win last week over Steparty.

“He has really been coming on and strengthening and coming on in the coat his whole preparation and his fitness levels have come along for the ride as well, so it’s been a really good build-up,” Freedman said.

“The Feehan is going to be a hot race, but we are really looking forward to the challenge and the horse is in tip-top show.

“It’s been an early preparation grand final.”

WATCH: Freedman after Attrition worked at The Valley

Attrition impressed first-up in the Leon Macdonald Stakes, before finishing seventh at his most recent start behind Pericles in a strung-out So You Think Stakes.

“I thought he did everything he could from where he was and thought he closed it off really nicely,” Freedman said.

“The best thing was he came through it well and was bouncing around after it and we’ve been able to get a solid block of work into him and just starting to come off him now to have him firing.”

Freedman said a favourable barrier draw will greatly assist the five-year-old’s chances, having made a recent habit of drawing wide gates.

A $26 chance in the Feehan Stakes, Freedman said options remain in the air for the son of Churchill’s next start, which could include a defense of his Toorak crown or the Epsom Handicap, with options also to rise in distance in the Turnbull or Might And Power Stakes.

The Five Diamonds (1800m) on November 9 also remains a target.

Freedman said stablemate Skybird will line up next weekend in either the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) or Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) after an excellent return in the Bobbie Lewis.