Magic Millions winner to ‘measure up’
Group 1 winner Rob Heathcote has no doubts his Magic Millions Guineas winner Abounding can measure up in the winter, as he puts together one of his strongest Brisbane carnival teams in years.
Abounding, along with the likes of Rothfire will trial at Doomben on Thursday after they were called off on Tuesday due to a wet track, and Heathcote says his surprise packet filly can continue on her merry way.
While Heathcote may be bullish on her winter aspirations, he is says there is one person more excited.
“The only person more confident than me is Marty Harley, he has ridden her a few times and gotten off and said ‘holy sh*t’, she is bigger, she’s stronger and gives him a better feel than last time,” he said.
“I don’t know, maybe he looks at the form and sees $2m next to her name and it clouds his judgement a bit.
“I think it’s fair to say she will measure up, it was a strong three-year-old race she won, so we will start off in the Mick Dittman (April 27, Eagle Farm), then down to the Gold Coast for the Gold Coast Guineas, then the Fred Best. “If she happens to win that, she’s into the Stradbroke and Tatts Tiara.”
It puts Abounding on a collision course with Tony Gollan’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt The Law, who is also set to trial on Thursday.
Ironically, the pair last faced off when they were both on debut on November 12 2022 at Doomben.
Abounding started a $1.50 favourite on the day, however she was skittled by $6 second favourite Skirt The Law.
“I have no doubt she can measure up,” Heathcote said.
“You look at her first three or four races and she probably should be unbeaten, but at the end of the day I will settle for the Magic Millions Guineas.”
Stablemate and fellow three-year-old Press Link will also trial on Thursday, alongside Prince Of Boom.
After being beaten by a flying Think About It in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last year, Heathcote said he could well aim up again with Rothfire this time around.
“He kicks off in the Victory Stakes, then probably the Doomben 10,000, which I have missed the last few years.”