Te Akau's NZ Win No.70

Following a spell, Our Abbadean (3 f Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights, by Fantastic Light) resumed with a very good win in the Chooky's Auto Maiden 1200 metres on March 30 at Matamata.

Behind Derby placer Raghu (Showcasing) when last presented in November, Our Abbadean had also contested races won by Capella (Rip Van Winkle), stable mates Xtravagant (Pentire) and Tatters (Tavistock), and remained held in tight quarters when trialling recently at Rotorua.

Bringing good form and stronger for a break, the filly bred and owned by the Hawkins family of Wentwood Grange settled off the pace, standing the leader six lengths at the 600m, and responded to urgings a furlong out before winning easily by three-quarters of a length.

Jockey Matt Cameron said: “The speed was on. She got a nice split through them and really attacked the line. Her form beforehand was good and she just needed a bit of pace on to get over them at 1200m but 1400m or a mile next time should be perfect."

On dead ground that produced good times throughout the day, Our Abbadean covered the 1200 metres in 1:10.6, last 600m in 36.4, and paid $5.10 & $1.70 on the tote.

“We've always liked her but we've had a lot of problems with her tying up,” said Stephen Autridge, who with Jamie Richards was recording the stable's 70^th training success of the season.

“We had to turn her out, start again and this time in everything has gone to plan. So, we're very happy and that was a good effort.

“At the 800 (metres) I thought the 1200m was a bit sharp today but she kept coming and found the line very well. She's bred to get over a bit of ground, so we'll keep stepping up."

Our Abbadean has a nice Northern Dancer cross on both sides of her pedigree and with maturity has continued to improve in all aspects.

“Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) was a stallion that Dean (Hawkins) really liked in Australia,” said Des Hawkins. 

“We never had doubts that he could produce a racehorse, as he was a good racehorse himself but did doubt whether or not he would be commercial. So we sent the mare over and I think she was the most beautiful foal we had that year.

“She was absolutely stunning as a foal. We took her to the yearling sales and same old story, we couldn't sell her. We never had a big reserve and a lot of people seemed interested, so she and Valley Girl were both in the same draft - two fillies we thought were the best two we had - and no buyers for them. So, fortunately we're racing them.

“She has a good pedigree and Fantastic Light is proving a very good broodmare stallion.

“We had been naming a few horses after songs and we had a bit of luck with Leigh Valley, named after our eldest boy, so we decided to get Dean's name into this one as he chose the mating.

“Her family can stay a bit. There are plenty of Oaks and staying type horses in there, so I see no reason why she wouldn't stay over a bit of ground.

“I think her temperament has been the most important thing. She was a little bit hot earlier on, wasn't she? But, she seems to be calming and settling down and as Dean said, ‘around at the start today she was like the clerk of course's horse'. So, the boys (Steve & Jamie) have obviously done a great job on getting her brain right,” said Hawkins.

Janet Groves-Farmer strapped Our Abbadean.

Photo credit - www raceimages.co.nz

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