Sir Patrick Hogan's Hopeful

The Informant reports:

An hour and a half before veteran stayer Precedence carries his distinctive green colours in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow afternoon, Sir Patrick Hogan has a strong chance at a big-race win in New Zealand with Abidewithme in the Gr. 3 Luxury Hotels Stakes at Ellerslie.

The five-year-old Redoute's Choice mare has made two appearances so far this season, both fast-finishing efforts just behind the placegetters in Group One company.

A big late run carried her into fourth place in the Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings first-up. She missed out on a place in the field for the Windsor Park Plate but she overcame her interrupted preparation to produce another terrific late sprint to finish fifth in the Livamol Classic over 2040 metres.

“I'm very happy with her,” trainer Jason Bridgman said. “She's probably improved since Hastings, which is not surprising. With the programme she had, she was always only just going to be ready for that Group One over 2000 metres.

“Her trackwork and recovery would indicate she has improved. We just really need a decent track. They've had quite a bit of rain in Auckland today. We'd need it to be a Dead6 at worst.”

In total Abidewithme has won six of her 14 starts. Three of those wins and a Group Three placing have come in five starts at Ellerslie.

“She absolutely loves the place,” Bridgman said. “She's never gone a bad race there.”

Her only unplaced run at Ellerslie was an eighth in the Gr. 1 Easter Handicap in April, stuck in the worst part of the track and still finishing within two lengths of winner Albany Reunion.

“She ran a mighty race in the Easter,” Bridgman recalled. “If you just look at the replay it looks like a good run, but in the context of the whole day's racing it was outstanding. Nothing wanted to go near the inside all day. She's probably the only one all day that's actually made ground down on the inside.”

To be ridden by Matt Cameron from gate five, Abidewithme is the $3.20 second favourite for tomorrow's $70,000 event over 2000 metres. Rotorua Plate winner Soriano holds favouritism at $2.50.

Ellerslie may not be at the forefront of Sir Patrick Hogan's mind tomorrow but he will still be keen to follow Abidewithme's progress as she bids for a first Group-race success to go with her Listed wins in the Ray Coupland Stakes and Anniversary Handicap.

It has already been a dream week for Hogan, having bred the Victoria Derby winner Preferment. The Zabeel colt was purchased by Chris Waller for $190,000 at the 2013 Premier Sale at Karaka.