Racing: Bridgman unearths stayer

A happy Michael McNab salutes the effort of Abidewithme at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Matamata trainer is looking at the Auckland Cup after Abidewithme wins Travis Stakes.

Abidewithme added 2000m to her resume in Saturday's Travis Stakes at Te Rapa and yesterday morning it got her trainer Jason Bridgman thinking.

"I know her form to this point has been at 1600m, but this latest win has made me think that perhaps her best form eventually may be over even more distance," said the Matamata horseman.

"She may even develop into a cups' mare for a race like the Auckland Cup, but it's a matter of what Sir Patrick Hogan wants of her. Whether he wants to cover her or race her on next season."

Abidewithme is by Redoute's Choice, not exactly a generator of 3200m form, but her dam, Crimson, is by Zabeel.

"She races more like a Zabeel than a Redoute's Choice."

Bridgman is also very taken by the mare's gorgeous temperament, which she definitely did not inherit from her dam Crimson, who was a total bitch when trained by Jim Gibbs.

"Abidewithme's nature is so perfect it's almost Christian and coupled with her tendency to be very clean winded makes her probably the perfect type to develop up as a stayer."

The power Abidewithme displayed to drive past Lauren Tate late in Saturday's race suggests at least some further distance than 2000m.

"Coming through the grades she was very good at 1600m, but when she started racing against the best they would kick hard off the corner and drop her off by a length or two and leave her with too much work to do.

"The 2000m with fast sectionals like yesterday's race is perfect for her."

Castamere's win at Te Rapa on Saturday is good news for the connections of Annette's Joy in today's $20,000 Vodafone Warriors Women In League Fillies Classic at Avondale today.

Annette's Joy finished second to Castamere at Rotorua last start after a slow start.

She chased an impressive winner hard with five lengths back to third and looked like a horse ready to win a race. Against her own sex today she is a solid chance.

This is a difficult race with many runners making their debuts and a huge number of good performances in recent barrier trials.

Tatters rates highly after a good third behind Stradivarius and Miss Wilson in a strong field at Rotorua last start. That is form as good as it gets for this race.

The promising barrier trials performances include No More Tears, High Class, Risque, Show Lover, Promise to Pay and recent winner Princess Athena.