MARTIN HARLEY WINS THE $3 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS GUINEAS ABOARD ABOUNDING – IT IS QUITE A STORY

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 13, 2024

Martin Harley rode an inch perfect race to get the Robert Heathcote trained Abounding home in the $3 million Magic Million Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday, but his real heroics wasn’t as much to do with what he did ... but, rather, it had to do with the fact he was actually able to be there to do it in the first place.

Harley’s race-fall twelve months ago, which left him with a broken neck, has been well documented as has his unbelievable level of commitment to his rehabilitation taking on a physical workload, just the thought of which might have left a less determined person beaten before they even got started.

So, a salute goes out here to Harley for clenching his teeth and not giving an inch until he had overcome his dire adversity, obviously with the help of those close to him. That’s the real hero part of Harley’s incredible personal story over the last twelve months.

Should you chose to do so, you can read the background story here first to get perspective of Harley’s achievement.

*The background story (as published on HRO in June 2023)

MARTIN HARLEY HITS THE HEADLINES ... AND THE CHANCES ARE THAT HE IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED
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But that was then ... this is now, and what a day out it was, in what must have seemed like paradise, for Harley, Heathcote and all of Abounding’s considerable number of owners ... and who better to tell the story of the lead-up runs to Magic Millions race-day and, of course, the events of the big day itself.

“You couldn’t write the script. It was unbelievable," said Harley.

“She (Abounding) has obviously been progressing after each win and her confidence has been high.” (Harley has ridden abounding in her last four starts for three wins and a second place finish).

“When she was second (in the Mode Stakes) she had a little bit of a wide trip around Doomben on a soft track, which she doesn’t like, but she was very honest to the line to even come in second, and, yeah, she has definitely progressed with every run.

“She wears her heart on her sleeve. She is very tough and honest ... and after her run at Eagle Farm (when she won the Listed Gold Edition on December 16) I was pretty certain she didn’t need to run against ... all she wanted was a freshen up and to tick over fir the Magic Millions.

“I’d never ridden in a Magic Millions Guineas before, so I didn’t know what it took to win a race like that, but I knew I was going there with the right partner.

“With the delays and all of that I was hoping she wouldn’t boil over before the race because, when she went to the barriers the first time it was pretty hot and humid. You know the boys can take it better than the girls sometimes, but she kept it together and she delivered when it mattered.

“People were worried about her getting the 1400m, but that wasn’t really a concern for me. We were very confident she would get the 1400m, because she relaxes very well and will race wherever you put her.

“When I won on her at Eagle Farm she had a bit of a sticky barrier so I kicked her forward to get a good position, but, at 1400m on Saturday, I just wanted to jump on terms and then slot her in.

“Obviously we were hoping for a good, clean run around from a nice barrier, which did happen. After 200m I could not have been happier where I was ... and then I tacked onto the rail a bit ... trying to go the shortest way around,

“Midfield was kind of the position I was looking for ... I think I was one further forward than midfield, but she had horses in front of her ... she was relaxed and in a good rhythm.

“When we got to the straight, I couldn’t believe that, on my left hand side, I could peel out wherever I wanted ... one, two, three spots ... to get that clear running without interfering with another horse or being interfered with myself.

“When that happened, I thought we had a big chance of running close here ... whether that may be a win or a second or a third. I thought she was definitely going to be placed.

“All credit to her. With the big heart she has she wouldn’t stop, never mind the pressure, until she got to the front ... and she didn’t even stop then. She has a big will to win.

“Obviously when I got to the line, I knew we had won but, in that moment, I still couldn’t really believe it after the year I have had. From the serious injury with its tough times, probably more for my wife than for me to be honest, I just couldn’t believe that the miracle did come off ... and it sure did ... with all that has happened in the last year.

“You hope something like that can come off, but it never really happens like that. Thankfully, it did for me this year.

“It really is just unbelievable having come through some of those dark moments, probably halfway through the injury, when I wondered if I was ever going to ride again ... whether I was going to race again ... is this the end of it?

“When I came back, I felt better than ever ... and here we are.

“I’ve got to thank Rob (Heathcote) and First Light Racing. They have been massive supporters of mine and without them the day wouldn’t have been possible.”

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