| Striking filly Abounding was the toast of the Gold Coast on Saturday after delivering connections a $3 million payday in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m). |
| The daughter of Rich Enuff sliced through the field as they straightened and, when jockey Martin Harley asked her to go after the leaders, she quickened powerfully down the middle of the track. Abounding claimed the lead inside the final 50m and was able to put a neck on Peter and Paul Snowden’s Sovereign Fund, who darted up the inside and looked a winning chance. As well as collecting $270,000 in prizemoney for running third, connections of third-placed Flying Trapeze banked an additional $181,250 in bonuses thanks to the Magic Millions Racing Women’s initiative. Abounding was purchased by First Light Racing and Robert Heathcote for $75,000 from the Telemon Thoroughbreds draft in Book 2 of the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Heathcote thanked First light Racing for their continued support and said he hopes Abounding can take up the mantle as his newest stable star. “It is a very special achievement,” Heathcote said. “First Light Racing, they have been a tower of strength to my business for a long time now since they first came up to Queensland. “Martin, thank you too, buddy. You gave me a pearler. I could not take my eyes off you in the run and when I saw you get out I thought we were a really sneaky chance here and he’s got the job done. “I’ve had some wonderful horses in my career and I’ve been so lucky. “I always seem to get another good one coming though and it could well be her now, now that Rothy (Rothfire) is still there but we don’t know for how much longer. To have a Magic Millions Guineas winner, very special.” For Harley, who has built a strong connection with the filly and was aboard her when she won the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) last start, the win came almost 12 months to the day since a horror injury almost ended his career. “Unbelievable. This time last year, four days away from the Magic Millions I broke my neck,” Harley said. “Thank God there was someone up there looking down on me today. “It was just nice to get a bit of redemption.” The race was delayed by more than an hour after an issue in the barriers involving Sydney Bowler, who was a late scratching and sent for further veterinary observation at the Gold Coast Equine Clinic. Heathcote and First Light Racing again combined at this week’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale to purchase Lot 649, a Spirit of Boom filly from Ridgmont. |
