The Chris Waller-trained imported stayer Abdon is one of the few horses to race in Brisbane who has had the distinction of having had Frankie Detorri as his regular rider.
Abdon makes his Brisbane debut in the $105,000 Makers Mark Open Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The gelding is one of many former English stayers on Waller’s books and he is making an art form of winning Australian races with them.
Abdon had 12 starts in England and Dettori was aboard for nine of them.
Dettori, who has been in outstanding form in the northern summer, was not the rider when Abdon won two races but did finish second in a stakes race on Abdon when the gelding was a two-year-old.
Dettori is expected to ride at the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January.
Abdon has had a mixed career since being sold to leading Australian owner Richard Pegum two years ago.
He has won only two more races in Australia but one of those was the Wagga Cup, a race much coveted by Pegum.
Abdon has not raced since finishing fourth in the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill in early June.
He had a quiet trial at the Gold Coast where he finished last behind Group One performer Tyzone two weeks ago.
Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer said Abdon had done what was expected of him in the trial.
“Chris knows the right horses to send to Brisbane and he has the knack of picking the right races for them,” Shailer said.
“He has made a real success of moving them up and down the highway which is now part of our routine.”
Waller will also run last-start Gold Coast winner Alward in the Makers Mark.
Alward, who did his early racing in France, had not won in nearly two years when he beat stablemate Vaucluse Bay in a race at the Gold Coast four weeks ago.
“Alward has continued to tick over with a trial where he was third to Tyzone and it was a nice effort,” Shailer said.
“The form out of the Gold Coast race he won has been good and Vaucluse Bay has been stakes placed in the south since.”
Ryan Maloney, who won on Alward at the Gold Coast, retains the ride on the gelding while Robbie Fradd rides Abdon.
“Ryan’s ride was the winning difference last start and the horse obviously goes well for him,” Shailer said.
“And Robbie has been riding well for us of late. It is good to be able to call on experienced riders such as them.”
Waller’s Queensland stable has had another good start to the season with his stayers again to the fore.
