A Group 1 then a Group 2

Stepping in distance with aplomb to win the Open Handicap 2100 metres on 10 March at Trentham, Our Abbadean (5 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights, by Fantastic Light) came of age and gained the result her breeders were after when winning the $100,000 Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Saturday at Awapuni.

“It's wonderful to win races for the Hawkins' family at Wentwood Grange, and for this progressive staying mare to win black type is what we've been striving to achieve for them, as breeders, and is just so valuable going forward to her breeding career,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“I've always had the belief that she was capable of winning a stakes' race and for it to be a Group Two is quite special and now that she's done that I can see her going on at this level.

“Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) have handled her patiently, given her time to find out just what her pet distances are, and that it seems to be staying trips makes it even better.

“She's a lovely mare and the ride by Danielle (Johnson) was simply outstanding. She'd won the Group One (Sires' Produce Stakes) earlier for us on Avantage (Fastnet Rock), made it three stakes' wins in a row on Our Abbadean and went on to win the Quaddie in the very next race. It was an amazing feat and one she really deserves because there are few as professional as her.”

Johnson, a late replacement for Shafiq Rusof, had Our Abbadean (18 - 1) nicely settled off the pace in seventh. She had her gaining momentum in behind the leaders from the 600m and once punched through the centre to challenge mid-straight the surge was there to score in a close finish.

“It's a massive thrill for us to get the (stakes') win with Our Abbadean, and Steve and Jamie have done a great job,” said Dean Hawkins. “We had a tough sale when we went to sell her and ended up passing in both Our Abbadean and Valley Girl at the same sale, and to now have a Group Two winner and a Group One winner from those two fillies is amazing. We've got both their mothers and now these two will also be joining our broodmare band.

“Stakes' success all flows through the families that we're trying to build and create, and ultimately to the value of the progeny at sale, and gaining black type is a very important part of it.

“Steve and Jamie have always known how important black type is to us as breeders and they've plotted a path to make it happen and have done a brilliant job. They got her in with 53-kilos on her back and she's come out a Group Two winner, so an absolutely terrific effort.

“It was a great ride by Danielle, who got the late call up after unfortunately Shafiq couldn't make the weight, and she did a terrific job considering she'd never ridden her before.

“Te Akau does a great job and they deserve all the success they're having. Kerry (Jones), in particular, has done a huge job with Our Abbadean the whole way through. She's been a tricky mare, tying up and needs a lot of TLC. Kerry loves her and puts a lot of extra work in and she's her girl.”

Jamie Richards said: “She really deserved that win. She's had a few problems along the way and we found the key to her last start. We'd always thought that she probably needed good ground, but I think the track conditions don't matter so much and as long as she's running over a genuine trip.

“Danielle (Johnson) gave her a lovely ride and the mare really did hang tough to win.

“Kerry (Jones) deserves special mention for the time and effort she puts into her and she did a super job in getting her to the races in such good order.

“It's great to get some black type for Wentwood Grange, it's what the game is all about for the breeders, and it's been a massive day for the stable.”

Ellis added: “The win by Avantage to become the 15^th stakes winner for us this season equalled a number we'd previously achieved three times under Mark Walker, and Our Abbadean making it 16 has set a new benchmark”.

Our Abbadean was strapped by Kerry Jones.
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