Timing is right for Abounding

By Glenn Davis

Timing is crucial in racing and Robert Heathcote is confident he's got it right with Abounding in the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Abounding, a Martin Harley mount, returns to the scene of her greatest triumph after claiming last year's Magic Millions Guineas.

It was the richest payday for Heathcote who has won 12 Group 1’s in his career.

The daughter of Rich Enuff goes into the 1400 metre feature third-up and is coming off a last start sixth to the Kris Lees-trained Bubba's Bay in the 1400 metre Listed Nudgee Stakes at Eagle Farm last month.

It's a similar timeline Heathcote adopted with Abounding last year when she won the Magic Millions Guineas third-up from a break.

Heathcote also accepted with Abounding in the Magic Millions QTIS feature but preferred the Magic Millions Cup despite a horror barrier of 16.

She also drew a wide gate in 13 in the Magic Millions QTIS race which is over 1300 metres, marginally shorter than the Cup.

Heathcote believes Abounding is in better form now than 12 months ago.

“I’ve been having a horrible luck with barriers and she was trapped five deep off a bad draw last start in the Nudgee and only got beaten,” Heathcote said.

“I was going to go fourth-up with her into the Magic Millions but I had to scratch her one day when we had that horrid run of bad weather.

“She’s in great order and her work has been outstanding and I think she’s going better now than Guineas time last year.

“She had a tough run second-up but she’s bounced back well and hopefully I’ve got her right for this.”

Bred by Queensland’s Telemon Thoroughbreds, Abounding cost just $75,000 when knocked down to First Light Racing at the Magic Millions sale of 2022.

Since then, she has gone on to win more than $2.3 million in stakes money with five wins and eight placings from 18 starts.

Heathcote plans to give Abounding a break after her Magic Millions assignment to prepare for the Queensland winter.

“She’ll head for a break after this and get ready for the winter and possibly the Stradbroke or the Tatt’s Tiara again,” Heathcote said.

“She ran in the Tatt’s Tiara last year and ran a nice fourth but she’s a better mare now."