Abidewithme Carries Hogans' Hopes

The Informant reports:

Just over a year on from the death of legendary Cambridge Stud stallion Zabeel, Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan will chase a special win in a Group One feature named in his honour.

The distinctive two-tone green colours of the Hogans will be carried by high-class mare Abidewithme in Monday's Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.

The well-bred daughter of Redoute's Choice and Crimson has already assured her value as a broodmare, winning nine of her 34 starts including the Gr. 2 Travis Stakes and Tauranga Stakes as well as placing in the last two runnings of the Gr. 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.

But her owner-breeders, and her trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, would dearly love to pick up an elusive Group One win in the final moments of her distinguished racing career. Abidewithme is in-foal to the new Cambridge Stud kingpin Tavistock.

"Stepping up to 2000 metres should be ideal for her, she goes very well right-handed and we've got Michael McNab back aboard."

After winning the Tauranga Stakes with ease two starts ago, Abidewithme stepped up to the elite level in the Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham earlier this month and finished seventh. She was doing her best work late as she finished 3.4 lengths behind the winner Aide Memoire in the 1600-metre feature.

“Things didn't go 100 per cent to plan with the way the race was run at Trentham, and she's a mare who has a tendency to get a bit one-paced on us when she's running over those shorter distances,” Richards told The Informant this week.

“But she's come out of the race really well. Stepping up to 2000 metres should be ideal for her, she goes very well right-handed and we've got Michael McNab back aboard. She has a very good association with Michael. We're confident she'll run a very good race.”

McNab has had six rides on Abidewithme for two wins - the Gr. 2 Travis Stakes and Tauranga Stakes - and three placings including one at Group One level.

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