An ANZAC Omen

Like her win in the Anniversary Handicap (Listed, 1600m) at Trentham, Abidewithme (5 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson, by Zabeel) was set alight from back in the field to win the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), at the Cambridge Jockey Club meeting, on Anzac Day at Te Rapa.

A tender mare on the ground, Abidewithme turns tigress in the heat of battle and while recording her third stakes win, to go with a recent Group One third in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), she provided rider Michael McNab with his first stakes victory.

“She travelled well on the bridle the whole way today and I can't speak highly enough of her,” said McNab, of the mare that hails from a terrific female line. “She gives one-hundred and twenty percent, is so quiet, with the best attitude, just wants to win, and everything went her way today.

McNab first combined with Abidewithme only three weeks ago when third in the Breeders' at Te Aroha, in a sizzling performance that saw her weave through the pack, and given slow footing, somewhat beyond her, she still produced a very good effort for sixth last Saturday in the Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Ellerslie.

“I'd like to thank Sir Patrick (Hogan) and Jason (Bridgman) for keeping me on and for everyone at home that has helped me, and my family that has always been there through the hard times - outstanding,” said McNab.

On footing that saw track records threatened, Abidewithme ran the 2000 metres in 2:01.9, last 600m in 36.1, and paid $8.90 & $3.00 on the NZ TAB after opening on race morning at $12.00 fixed.

Hats off too to Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman who, with a mare he had always kept fresh, he resisted galloping in a busy schedule of three starts in as many weeks.

“There were horses trapped out down the back that pushed forward and that created the pressure she needed,” said Bridgman. “And normally when she looks like a lizard at the half mile we're a bit of a chance because you know they're going hard enough to get over them.

“I don't think I've ever had a horse in training that deserves a big race win as much as her, and it's just fantastic. She needs things to work out on the day and to be honest, when I looked through the form for this race there wasn't a lot of speed, and I thought it was going to be another one of those races that might not pan out but thankfully it has.

“She had put on a couple of kilos through the week, which is a tremendous sign, and I don't think she's ever paraded looking as good as she did today.

“She's at her heaviest weight for the season, so she's really handled her racing well and I was just saying to Sir Patrick before the race that there may be more ahead of her next season, yet, and she's just been a slow maturing sort and like her dam (Crimson) a light fleshed mare,” said Bridgman.

Bred and owned with his wife Justine, Lady Hogan, Sir Patrick said: “She's been pretty unlucky in the fact that she's been perfectly prepared for her races but she gets so far back, and at Hawkes Bay [during the spring carnival] she put up some enormous performances. She put up an enormous performance recently at Te Aroha, and again in the Easter (Handicap).

“She's run thirds, fourths, sixths etc and I really believed she deserved being honoured with a Group One or Group Two win, and she's done that, and I'd like to congratulate Jason, Te Akau stables and all the staff there,” said Sir Patrick.

The victory was also fitting as Sir Patrick is a trustee of the Cambridge Jockey Club.

Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan also bred her impressive winning dam Crimson (Zabeel), who was trained by Jim Gibbs before transferring to Bart Cummings during the latter stages of her career. A winner fresh-up over 1400 metres as a three-year-old, Crimson went on to produce outstanding form through the spring and summer, winning the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 1600m), finishing second in both the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), before victory in the Grosvenor Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) at Ellerslie. Her dam, Bourbon Lassie (Mellay) also produced the stallion Omnicorp (Grosvenor).