Brisbane’s recent stormy weather still made an impact on the Eagle Farm meeting which had jockey Martin Harley concerned that Abounding may not appreciated softer ground, but the determination of her win settled anything he had earlier thought.
Abounding ($2.70 favourite) put in a late drive to take out the $200,000 Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) for fillies, a main led-up to the $3 million Restricted Listed Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) on January 13.
The filly by Rich Enuff finished second in the Listed Mode Plate (1200m) at Doomben on December 2 and Harley was relieved to atone for the disappointment of not going one better then.
“She was gutsy,” Harley said.
“Everything I asked of her, she kept finding but I forgot how long the straight is here.”
“She worked super, her last run was brilliant and her win before that was brilliant, trainer Robert Heathcote said.
“She is on the second line of betting in the three-year-old race and that is where we’re going.
Abounding was the second favourite for the Magic Millions Day three-year-old highlight but has since firmed in favouritism at $7.
Heathcote left it open that Abounding may have another start in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on December 30.
“Martin never had a lot of luck in the last run when she was heavily backed,” he added.
“She was heavily backed again today and I don’t want it over again but she’s won, won a listed race, and she’s going super.”
Abounding won by a short-head margin over the Toowoomba-trained Avone ($17) with Show Me Mercy ($5) a head away in third.
The Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor is the $8 second favourite with top betting apps for the Magic Millions Guineas.
The Better Than Ready colt made an impression winning the Group 2 Callendar-Presnall (1600m) at Randwick in October.
