A storm couldn’t stop Abounding making amends for her backers as she dug deep to win the Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm.

Courtesy of Trenton Akers

December 16, 2023 - 7:17PM

A huge storm battered Eagle Farm on Saturday and Rob Heathcote created one of his own as Abounding stamped her Magic Millions 3YO Guineas credentials with a gutsy win in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m).

Races were forced to be shuffled around as huge lightning struck parts of Brisbane and jockey Martin Harley was fearing the downpour may have spelled the end of his chances aboard the filly, but he produced a timed to the minute performance to knock off Angela Jones aboard the Tony and Maddy Sears-trained Avone.

After being a beaten odds-on favourite a fortnight earlier in the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben, punters charged in again, backing her into a $2.60 chance.

Abounding joins an elite honour board, with previous winners including Alligator Blood, Isotope and Zoustyle. Very Elite Company !

Her effort saw TAB trim her $3mill Magic Millions 3YO Guineas Guineas quote from $9 into $8 joint favouritism.

“Her last run was brilliant, her win before that was brilliant, she is on the second line of betting in the Magic Millions $3 million Guineas, so that is where we are going,” Heathcote said.

“Whether I go straight there or have another run in the (Group 3) Vo Rogue (1350m), we will wait and see how she pulls up.

“Martin didn’t have a lot of luck last start, she was heavily backed that day and she was heavily backed again today.”

After drawing wide on Saturday, Harley was again forced to do it tough and had Heathcote fearing the worst.

“I don’t want it over again, but she’s won and she’s won a Listed race for First Light Racing,” he said.

“She is one of the flag-bearers for the team now.

“I love the fact that she atoned for an unlucky defeat last start, she has a few knockers.

 

“She is going to be spot on for that race, she is getting the job done and that is the bottom line.”

It marked a second stakes win for Harley and Heathcote together, after they combined to win the Listed Ramornie Handicap earlier this year.

After missing the Magic Millions earlier this year with a broken neck, Harley is set for his first outing at the super rich day.

The Irishman admits he was forced to dig deep on Saturday to pull past Jones, but was in awe of Abounding’s fighting spirit.

“I was worried when the rain started to come down, she has won on a soft track but she is much better on top of the ground,” he said.

“It didn’t get too bad today, my god she was gutsy, every time I asked her, she kept finding.”

 

Abounding shares Magic Millions 3YO Guineas favouritism with Chrysaor and Keenan.