Rob Heathcote says his rookie filly Abounding is so professional – and potentially so good – that he often has to do a double take when he watches her.
The $75,000 purchase of Magic Millions, for First Light Racing, will make its Doomben debut on Saturday as the $1.55 favorite after scrambling its opposition in practice at Eagle Farm and Doomben.
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Heathcote never really set his sights on the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions day in January, but he dares to dream with Rich Enuff’s two-year-old daughter.
“There were times when I forgot she was two,” Heathcote said.
“That’s because she didn’t take the wrong foot from day one, she just flew under the radar and she’s going about her business.
Impressive first outing to Eagle Farm this morning.
Abundant (2f Rich Enuff x Transonic).
$75,000 purchase for @FirstLight_FLR & Robert Heathcote of @TelemonThorough1 at @mmsnippets Gold Coast Book 2.His dam finished 3rd in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stks.@Woodside_Parkpic.twitter.com/wsg1YDmhK3
—Breednet (@BreednetNews) October 4, 2022
“A lot of times the good guys have that little bit of sass, that little bit of X-factor, and she definitely has it.
“It’s a bit like a horse like Rothfire, from the start, those kind of horses never do anything wrong.
“They look like they’re just dream horses.
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“She has to come out and do it on Saturday, but Ben Thompson, from the moment he first sat on her, he came in and said, ‘Damn, she’s fine’.”
Making it easier for Abounding on Saturday is the fact that she faces only four rivals in the 2-year-old Handicap (1050m) at Doomben.
After an armada of horses trained by Les Ross, juvenile horses owned by Mike Crooks with the nickname Mishani have been racing through the town lately.there are none in Saturday’s $75,000 2YO contest at Doomben.
Ross instead deployed many young Mishani in a race on the Gold Coast Saturday provincial map.
Rob Heathcote has a promising young filly in his hands. Photo: AAP
“It’s funny a few weeks ago people were blowing up saying Les Ross pretty much had the whole field in a two year old race on Saturday in the city, now he’s gone in that race and he there are only five platoons,” Heathcote said.
“But I can only worry about my filly.
“Her trials were impressive and she floats on the ground.
“All the signs are positive, although she has yet to step out into the competition cauldron and compete.
“She will jump and cross them all on Saturday.”
Heathcote are taking a strong team to the races at Doomben on Saturday and could easily come away with several winners.
But the Group 1-winning trainer has identified in-form Drive A mare Deel, who is aiming for four straight wins, as the one with the best chance of winning outside of Abounding.
Drive A Deel is the $2.40 Class Six Handicap favorite over 1600m.
“She’s won three in a row and she’s got real class with a capital C,” Heathcote said.
“I think she’s in the stakes class, although she can still make a few mistakes.
“But he is certainly a horse with a lot of potential.”
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