3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following Abounding winning the Restricted Listed $3M Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at Gold Coast on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Abounding (Martin Harley/Robert Heathcote)
2nd: Sovereign Fund (Tommy Berry/Peter & Paul Snowden)
3rd: Flying Trapeze (Tyler Schiller/Gary Portelli)

ABOUNDING WINS THE MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS! pic.twitter.com/1PkzV9wexv

— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) January 13, 2024

Winning Trainer: Robert Heathcote

"It is a very special achievement. 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."

On the horse: "You walk past the box and the bitch will try and bite your hand off. You call it determination, she's got a lot of crankiness in her and that is what makes her a really special filly and she has just taken me to a level.

"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.

Was going to run her two weeks ago but didn't: "We made that call and some might have thought it was a tough call. She had never been to 1400-metres and I elected not to run her for a month.

"That was as much on the advice of Martin who said when he won narrowly that day and he came in and said, 'Robert, she's fit enough, don't run her again'.

"He's an international group one horseman and I listened to the horseman not the jockey.

"We gave her a week out at Killora, brought her back. The wet weather set us back a bit and I couldn't give her a jump out.

"The BRC were great. They gave me a couple of course proper gallops and here we are. Got the job done."

Winning Jockey: Martin Harley

"Unbelievable. This time last year, four days away from the Magic Millions I broke my neck. Thank God there was someone up there looking down on me today.

"It was just nice to get a bit of redemption.

On the run: "Obviously with the delay and everything, everyone had to cope with it. She kept things together, saved all her energy where she could.

"She had a good run around, got a lovely run in the straight. She's got a heart of gold."

Who made a difference in his recovery: "Number one is my wife for putting up with me. Number two, Mitch Beer, my manager. Number three, the good old viper, Michael.

"Plenty of people have all been there for me. Even all the jocks. When they get injured, James McDonald last year was very kind after Alpine Edge won.

"That is good. We're friends in the weighing room but on the track it is competition.

"I'm very thankful after what happened a year ago. Thank God. This win has made me proud.

"I want to thank Robert Heathcote as well. He deserves this. All the First Light Racing crew. They have been good to me."