Our Abbadean (NZ) Completes Group 2 Double

29 April 2018

Our Abbadean (NZ) has a sparkling win in the Group 2 Travis Stakes. Photo: Trish Dunell
Our Abbadean (NZ) has a sparkling win in the Group 2 Travis Stakes. Photo: Trish Dunell

A sparkling win by Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin at Lucky) in Saturday’s $100,000 Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa was further proof that Wentwood Grange’s draft at the 2014 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka was a case of what might have been.

The Hawkins family’s draft at the 2014 Sale included two fillies who each fell short of their $75,000 reserve. The first was Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), who later carried the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust colours to Group 1 glory in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa and became an enormously valuable addition to their broodmare band.

The second passed in filly was Our Abbadean, who was also retained by her breeders and has taken her racing career to new heights over the last five weeks.

She beat a quality weight-for-age field in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) on March 31, then carried a big weight into a brave second placing in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) two weeks later.

On Saturday she was outstanding, sprinting past China Star (NZ) (Chinese Dragon) and Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) in the last 150 metres for an emphatic half-length win in the hands of Shafiq Rusof.

“We’ve been really pleased with her all the way through,” co-trainer Jamie Richards said. “She was super at Awapuni, and we were happy with how she’s trained on.

“Stevie (co-trainer Stephen Autridge) has been saying all along that she’s a mare who, when she finds form, she really holds it. She’s really found her best form after Christmas, and being up over the staying trips has been the key to her.

“The team at Wentwood Grange are great supporters, and it’s lovely to have a horse in our stable for them.”

Our Abbadean has now had 24 starts for seven wins, four placings and $218,635 in prizemoney – almost three times the reserve Wentwood Grange set for her at the 2014 Select Sale.

Vendor Wentwood Grange
Purchaser  
Breeding Lookin at Lucky – Highland Lights
Sale Lot 520, 2014 Select Sale, Psd (Res $75,000)
Bred by Llanhennock Trust