Abounding was a picture of health and vitality when paraded at Robert Heathcote’s stable, appearing a bright prospect before the Stradbroke Handicap. However, the focus has shifted from that Group 1 race to the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm this Saturday. For the five-year-old mare, this event offers a significant chance to improve on her second-place result from the 2025 running.
“She’s always been a good type and she’s healthy and she’s happy,” Heathcote remarked. “She’s eaten well and she’s working well. We’d aimed for this even when I took her down to Sydney in March, we just wanted to put a fitness run into her and to freshen her up for the carnival.”
Abounding’s performance in Queensland’s premier race, the Stradbroke Handicap won by Spicy Martini over 1400m on June 13, saw her finish 14th. Nevertheless, she was only six lengths behind the winner, and the heavy track conditions were a considerable disadvantage.
“The Stradbroke was a speed bump on an unsuitable track for her but I think she ran ok. She’s done well and we haven’t done much with her since that run as that would have topped her off fitness wise.”
“I just hope we get a track that is not too wet. I think it is a mistake that a lot of people make with Eagle Farm track in that when it gets wet it shouldn’t be graded soft five or six, or heavy eight or nine. It should be the amount of shiftiness because it gets so shifty. Either a horse can handle that or they can’t. If we get a Good 4 for or a Soft 5, I think she can go one better than last year.”
After winning the BRC Sprint on May 23, Abounding became the first mare to achieve this feat since Red Tracer in 2010. She will be reunited with jockey Tim Clark for the Tiara, where she is currently available at $7 in the early betting.
“Tim knows his stuff and they just get the job done, those top Sydney boys,” Heathcote added.
She’s Got Pizzazz, the initial $4 favourite, will not be participating. Grahame Begg’s Splash Back now heads the market at $4.40.
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