Heathcote hopes Abounding bounces back

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Robert Heathcote has expressed his frustration with Abounding’s spring campaign in Melbourne, but remains hopeful his Group 2-winning mare can bounce back at Caulfield on Saturday.

Abounding’s Melbourne campaign has been disrupted by poor weather, but she finally got her chance to make her spring debut this campaign in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington on September 12.

However, the six-year-old, who won the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield last year, finished at the tail of the field in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

“Under the circumstances, I wasn’t disappointed with her run in the Bobbie Lewis,” Heathcote said.

“She never got any cover up the straight and it’s very difficult to win without some sort of cover.

“She was never supposed to run in the Bobbie Lewis as her campaign has been interrupted a lot by bad weather and she missed running in a few earlier races.”

Heathcote is again wary of Melbourne’s fickle weather with forecasters predicting fine weather leading into the Caulfield meeting.

“It’s been very frustrating for a quality mare like her,” Heathcote said.

“I’m very happy with the way she’s been working and the Northwood Plume Stakes over 1200 metres should suit her.

“She doesn’t like wet tracks, so I’m hoping for a dry track.”

Heathcote, who recently announced the retirement of his Group 1-winning star Rothfire, will be guided by Abounding’s performance at Caulfield before finalising her next appearance in Melbourne.

“She’s a quality Group-winning mare, who has had no luck this preparation,” he said.

“I’ll see how she runs in the Northwood Plume, but there’s a few nice races coming up and we’ve still got the summer carnival at home just around the corner.

“She won the Magic Millions Guineas as a three-year-old, so there’s a strong chance she’ll line up in one of those Magic Millions races at the Gold Coast.”

Meanwhile, Rothfire is back home in Heathcote’s Eagle Farm stables after being retired following his run in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Caulfield last month.

“He travelled back from Melbourne in good order and we’re looking after him in the stables for the time being,” Heathcote said.

“A lot of his owners are coming in for a pat, so we’ll just look after him until he goes to the paddock for a well-earned retirement.”

Rothfire ended his career with $5.83 million in prizemoney with 12 wins and 20 placings from 47 starts.

He won two races at the highest level in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm in 2020 and six years later in this year’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000.