2025 BRC Sprint: Robert Heathcote poised to spring upset with luckless $2.3m earner Abounding
Fresh off only narrowly being denied with evergreen warrior at $41 in the Doomben 10,000, the Eagle Farm trainer has $2.3m earner Abounding in Saturday's race at Doomben which offers the winner a golden ticket into the Stradbroke Handicap.
Abounding resumed in the Group 2 Victory Stakes earlier this month but the filly was out in the cheap seats from a wide barrier and finished 10th, beaten four lengths.
It continued a run of shocking gates for Abounding, the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner of last year.
In her past five starts, Abounding has drawn barriers 12, 13, 15, 10 and 16.
Martin Harley has ridden Abounding in her past 13 starts including the 2024 Magic Millions triumph, but Sydney jockey Tommy Berry takes the mount in the 1350m race on Saturday.
Abounding over the top in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas! @mmsnippets @GCTurfClub @FirstLight_FLR pic.twitter.com/HEDxsjRtt5
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2024
'I am delighted with this filly, she had zero luck first-up,' Heathcote said.
'She was caught wide but I can probably say that for nearly all of her recent runs.
'She has had no luck dating right back to the (2024) Magic Millions, but she is definitely Group class.
'Whether she is Group 1 or not, we will find out down the track.
'She will head towards the (Group 1) Tatt's Tiara and we have nominated her for the Stradbroke.
'Her rating already has her close to getting into the Stradbroke and this race on Saturday will tell us more.
'My track work rider gave her a whiz around Doomben this morning and she went super.
'Hopefully the track will continue to dry out for her.
'I think she is in the same sort of form that won her the Magic Millions last year.'
• 'They'll have to carry me back': Cejay dreams of Doomben Cup upset
Four-year-old mare Abounding is a $26 chance in the BRC Sprint but the Heathcote camp feels she is a far better chance than her price suggests, especially if she finally gets a favourable barrier draw.
Rothfire is also a $26 chance for his next assignment – Saturday week's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
After almost knocking off favourite Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben 10,000, the ageless sprinter has continued to thrive.
'Rothy is fantastic,' Heathcote said.
'I had him under saddle this morning for the first time this morning since Saturday.
'I could not be happier with him and he will go into the Kingsford Smith Cup a better chance than his $26 price reflects.'
Sir Delius impresses in his Australian debut, surging to victory at Doomben! @GaiWaterhouse1 @clarkyhk
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained import, who won his first race Down Under, will be set for a spring Cups campaign including in the Melbourne Cup where he is now a $15 chance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Rabbitohs' ‘$2 million mistake' exposes the NRL club's major recruitment issue
The Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd has been labelled a '$2 million mistake' as he prepares to start at halfback for the first time in the NRL. Dodd was named in the No. 7 jersey for South Sydney's clash with the Sharks on Saturday night. In his four previous NRL games this season, Dodd came off the bench in three games and started at five-eighth in the other. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Even with his hefty $650,000 salary, Dodd has been regularly overlooked for selection by coach Wayne Bennett, even amid an injury crisis at the club in 2025. NRL 360 co-host Dan Ginnane wondered whether Dodd had been signed by the Rabbitohs solely because he kicked the match-winning field goal for St Helens in the World Club Challenge back in 2023, when they prevailed 13-12 over Penrith. The 23-year-old Dodd is contracted with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2027 season on a three-year deal. 'Is there a chance that Souths pushed the button when he kicked that field goal in the World Club Challenge, which is really, let's be honest, in our part of the world, it's a glorified exhibition game?' Ginnane asked. 'He kicks a field goal, they win 13-12, is that a $2 million field goal that he kicked?' Panellist Andrew Webster agreed the Dodd signing was a mysterious one. 'It is one of the more bizarre recruitments, really,' Webster added. 'I've heard from people both in the UK and other recruiters here in the NRL that they were surprised that Souths signed him and threw that amount of money at him. 'Look, it's a $2 million mistake. 'I've heard of other Super League clubs being interested in getting him but they want to be offering some pretty heavy coin for Lewis Dodd to want to move away from the $700,000 a year contract he's on.' Host Braith Anasta said the Rabbitohs' recruitment has left a lot to be desired. 'I really think they've got to change a lot about their recruitment, Souths,' Anasta said. 'I think they've got to take a different direction, moving forward. I say this because, you look at their NSW Cup team, they're coming last, their Jersey Flegg second last, their junior competition is nowhere near where it used to be.' Webster believes South Sydney need to add to their stocks in the forwards. 'They need some middle forwards. That's what they've been missing all year. Through injury and form, they haven't had that at all this year, and where they are on the ladder reflects it,' Webster added. Ginnane pointed out that Latrell Mitchell has missed a lot of games for the Rabbitohs since joining the club. 'Latrell plays 14 games a year. It's fact. He's played 85 games in six years at Souths, so he's going to miss 10 games,' Ginnane added. The Rabbitohs are currently missing a staggering number of players, worth over $6 million, in an injury crisis. Mitchell ($1.1 million), Cameron Murray ($1 million), Keaon Koloamatangi ($650,000), Campbell Graham ($650,000), Cody Walker ($600,000), Brandon Smith ($550,000), Davvy Moale ($500,000), Peter Mamouzelos ($300,000), Jamie Humphreys ($250,000), Jayden Sullivan ($200,000), Mikaele Ravalawa ($165,000) and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape ($120,000) are all currently sidelined.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Bozhidar Kraev scores double as Western Sydney Wanderers progress to Australia Cup round of 16 with win over Peninsula Power
Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev scored twice as Western Sydney Wanderers cruised into the Australia Cup round of 16 with a 3-0 win over NPL Queensland club Peninsula Power on Tuesday night. New Wanderers signing, veteran New Zealand international attacker Kosta Barbarouses, also found the back of the net at AJ Kelly Park as Peninsula's attempt to disrupt the visitors by narrowing the pitch proved to be fruitless. Kraev scored twice in the opening 23 minutes, with Barbarouses' goal nine minutes later putting the game to bed. It could have been worse for the Power, but goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell saved a 59th-minute penalty to deny Kraev a hat-trick. 'It was how we planned it, how we expected it and how we wished things to go,' Kraev told Paramount Plus in reflecting on his side's overall performance. The Wanderers starting side also included another of the club's off-season acquisitions in former Central Coast Mariners striker Alou Kuol, while ex-Melbourne City midfielder Steven Ugarkovic, who also recently signed with Western Sydney, was a second-half substitute. Joining the Wanderers in the round of 16 with wins on Tuesday night were Victorian clubs Avondale and Nunawading City. Avondale thrashed West Australian outfit Stirling Macedonia 5-1, while fourth-tier club Nunawading set a record Australia Cup scoreline with a 9-0 thumping of Darwin Olympic.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Curnow ‘raised' trade, but Suns can't see it happening
Gold Coast have not spoken to Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow despite the forward's reported interest in joining the Suns. Gold Coast was sceptical about their ability to do a trade for Curnow given they expected to have little draft capital this year – due to academy recruits that would swallow their picks – and no scope to accommodate a player on Curnow's $1 million-plus wage for the next four years, according a Suns source with knowledge of the Curnow situation speaking off record. Nine News reported that Curnow, 28, raised with the Blues that he was open to a trade with the Suns, but that Carlton had shut down any prospect of trading the two-time Coleman medallist. His willingness to be traded is said to have now piqued the interest of other clubs. Curnow has had a challenging year at the under-performing Blues, having endured surgeries during the pre-season that set back his campaign. Carlton's performances and injuries also have made it harder for Curnow, who often has been the sole dangerous forward in attack as his teammate Harry McKay has often been grounded. The Suns would need to trade out an expensive player to pay Curnow, and they arguably have little need for a player in his position as key forward given they have Ben King, who has next year to run on his contract and will then be a free agent and talented young key forward Jed Walter. The Curnow situation comes as Carlton faces likely change in their football department, with incoming chief executive Graham Wright looking closely at the football program. Senior coach Michael Voss's position has not been guaranteed beyond this season despite a contract for 2026, but Wright is examining far more than just the coach and his assistants.
