Half-Brother to Abidewithme Karaka 2014

The famous colours of Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan landed a timely stakes victory with Abidewithme (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) triumphant in the Listed $50,000 Tui – Backing a Winner Since 1889 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday, adding further black-type to the already strong pedigree page of her half-sister at the 2014 Karaka Premier Sale.

Abidewithme (NZ) triumphant in the Listed Tui – Backing a Winner Since 1889 Anniversary Handicap.

From the Zabeel mare Crimson, a half-sister to Abidewithme is catalogued at Lot 428 in Cambridge Stud’s Premier Sale draft, by Stravinsky. The filly is also a full-sister to stakes winner and Group 1 VRC Oaks runner-up Miss Scarlatti (NZ) (Stravinsky).

Trained by Jason Bridgman, four-year-old Abidewithme entered Saturday’s Listed race unbeaten in two starts this campaign, having won fresh up at Ellerslie and then beat home Group 2 Rich Hill Mile winner Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel) second up, also at Ellerslie.

The mare by Redoute’s Choice settled behind mid-field for the country’s leading rider Matthew Cameron in an evenly run race. The pair were the widest in the straight and unleashed a strong sprint to pick up southerner Arietta (NZ) (Falkirk), who got an inside split to hit the front, in the dying stages to win by a long head with three-quarters of a length back to Roc de Chine (Fastnet Rock).

“It was a good gutsy effort,” stated Bridgman. “She drew an outside gate and she got back in the running. It wasn’t a day when horses where making a lot of ground so I thought in the context of things it was a very big performance from her.”

“She is just going from strength to strength and being out of a Zabeel mare she should get better with age. We are hopeful she can develop into a Group 1 next season, possibly by the autumn. At this stage she is doing everything right and continues to step up.

“She will have a short break now then we will look to an autumn campaign. She has only had nine starts in two seasons, we have taken her along quietly and spaced her races so we are really hoping it will pay off next season.

“She is a possibility to have a crack at something like the Group 1 Easter Handicap. She has a great affinity with Ellerslie, a mile should suit and she should get in near the minimum.

“She is out of Crimson, she has left three stakes performers and it is a nice family. This mare will make a great addition to the broodmare band when she retires being by Redoute’s Choice.”

The win was the sixth from only nine starts for Abidewithme, and her second at Listed level having won the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes as a three-year-old. The filly has earned $111,300 in stakes for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan.

Cambridge Stud has a big week ahead of them with 68 yearlings catalogued at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series. The Stud has 48 yearlings in the Premier Sale and 20 yearlings in the Select Sale. The draft will feature 14 yearlings from the last crop of Zabeel to be sold at auction.

Cambridge Stud will conduct a full public parade tomorrow (Tuesday 21 January) at 1pm at Karaka and will be open for parades from Wednesday 22 January.