Heathcote has Abounding ready to bloom in the Empire Rose
Robert Heathcote is hopeful he can snap a ten-year Group 1 drought in Melbourne when his supremely consistent mare Abounding (Rich Enuff) tackles the mile for the first time in her career in Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington.
Heathcote is delighted to be “back in the big time” as he chases another interstate double a fortnight after Abounding and the ultra-resilient Rothfire (Rothesay) put the genial trainer’s name up in lights courtesy of their respective victories in the Tristarc Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and the Sydney Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
The dual success marked something of a throwback to Heathcote’s halcyon days with his superstar Buffering (Mossman), who dominated the nation’s sprinting ranks for a three-year period from 2012.
The proud Queenslander has enjoyed several top-tier triumphs in his home state since then, but Buffering’s 2015 Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) success remains the last time he has experienced the thrill of Group 1 glory in Victoria.
However, that could all change at approximately 5pm on Saturday when Abounding’s maiden Melbourne mission reaches its crescendo in the Empire Rose at Flemington, where victory would send her career earnings north of $3 million – and the five-year-old could conceivably be worth a similar sum as a broodmare proposition.
If the old adage about mares in form rings true then Abounding, with a win and three stakes placings to her name this prep, looks well-placed to repeat the feat of Colette (Hallowed Crown), the last mare to complete the Tristarc-Empire Rose double in 2021.
“She’s just been racing out of her skin,” said Heathcote, who will delegate Flemington duties to his travelling foreman Oliver Peoples while he and wife Vicky head to Randwick to watch ‘Rothy’ contest the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m).
“She’s had four runs this prep, and you could quite easily argue she should have won all four. But she won emphatically at Caulfield last start, and she’s been super since then.
“I’m enormously proud of her and she has probably exceeded expectations, because some of the owners had a few doubts over whether she could compete against the better mares in Melbourne. So we formulated plan A and plan B in case she didn’t measure up, but she’s certainly measured up and she now heads into a Group 1 race on Derby Day as one of the favoured runners.”
With the likes of 2023 Empire Rose heroine Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and race favourite Fangirl (Sebring) among her opponents, Abounding faces the most daunting assignment of her 27-start career.
But if prizes were handed out for honest endeavour, Heathcote believes Abounding – a $75,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase in partnership with First Light Racing – would already be a multiple Group 1 winner.
Perhaps the bigger issue is the mare’s dearth of experience over the mile – a distance her sire, Woodside Park resident Rich Enuff (Written Tycoon), only contested on one occasion when beaten a lip in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
However, her dam Transonic (Casino Prince) had winning form over 1900 metres which would have reassured the breeding buff Heathcote, and any lingering concerns were further alleviated when she was assigned the inside gate at the barrier draw on Wednesday morning.
“Drawing barrier one is gold for her,” said Heathcote.
“For her to run out the mile, we needed a soft run so barrier one should help immensely. She’s rock hard fit so we haven’t changed anything with her training routine, because she’s been going so well and she seems very happy. Running the trip has to be a small concern but she arguably should have won the Stocks Stakes over 1500 metres at Moonee Valley two starts back, so that gives us some confidence.
“Moonee Valley’s a completely different track to Flemington but the way she hit the line that night, you couldn’t confidently say she won’t get the mile. From that barrier on Saturday she should be three pairs back the fence and cuddled up for a run, then we’ll leave Jamie [Melham] to figure it out from there.”
Melham has effectively traded rides with Abounding’s previous pilot Blake Shinn, who is reunited with Te Akau’s Damask Rose (Savabeel) having piloted the Te Akau Racing-owned mare to back-to-back stakes wins in her native New Zealand at the start of the year.
Heathcote doesn’t feel that Abounding’s chances have been in any way diminished by the booking of Melham, who will be keen to maintain her momentum ahead of her bid to become the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) aboard joint favourite Half Yours (St Jean) next Tuesday.
“Jamie’s got unbelievable balance, she’s very patient and she reads races very well,” said Heathcote.
“She ticks all the boxes and while I don’t know all the other female riders in the world, for me she has to be the best and I think her record shows that. So hopefully we’ve got the right jockey and the right horse.
“I do think this mare gone to a new level this prep, and it’s probably down to maturity as much as anything. I would love to say I’m a genius and I’ve just worked her out, but it’s all down to the mare so I can’t take the credit.
“She’s coped really well with the travel and Oliver [Peoples] has done a terrific job looking after her. I also have to give credit to the Hayes boys for letting us stay with them when we’re in Melbourne, which we’ve done for many years now. It’s a big comfort because we know the environment and it makes life so much easier.”
Abounding’s stablemate Rothfire spent some time at Lindsay Park’s sprawling property at Euroa before returning to Sydney, where he has settled in like the seasoned traveller he has become.
Heathcote is hoping the rain predicted to fall in the Harbour City in the build-up to the Golden Eagle meeting will assist Rothfire, who is both brittle and brilliant in equal measure.
Given that the Russell Balding is effectively a mini Everest – minus of course the winner Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) – Heathcote readily concedes that the ‘Thriller from Chinchilla’ will require an abundance of brilliance to sign off his spring prep with a 12th career win.
But given the adversity Rothfire has repeatedly overcome during the course of his injury-ravaged career, nothing would surprise his trainer and chief cheerleader.
“He’s never let us down, and I’m sure that will be the case again on Saturday,” said Heathcote.
“As strong a race as it is, we head in confident that he’ll run very well again. To be perfectly honest, we had planned to spell him after the Sydney Stakes, but he just pulled up so well and when you’ve got a race worth $3 million two weeks later, it’s pretty difficult to turn that sort of opportunity down.
“Given his history with injuries, I’m always very mindful with him and if he gives us even the slightest sign that he’s not 100 per cent, I wouldn’t have any hesitation in sending him straight to the paddock. He had four days relaxing at Euroa then we sent him to Flemington purely because we wanted the farrier down there to tend to his feet and get them right.
“So we’re really happy with him, and hopefully he and Abounding can both do us proud again on Saturday. Whatever happens, I’m just delighted to be back on the big stage and having another hit with the big boys.”