"He's a very under-rated rider. He came from Singapore and when you are competitive against the likes of Michael Rodd, Joao Moreira and Vlad Duric it speaks volumes," he said.
Raced by breeders Wentwood Grange, Our Abbadean settled midfield on a good pace and finished resolutely to add the Travis to her group two Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) title.
In between times, the daughter of Lookin At Lucky ran second in the Listed Hawke's Bay Cup (2200m).
Meanwhile, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are likely to be looking at suitable offshore targets for the quality mare Love Affair.
The Cambridge trainers produced the Garry Chittick-bred and owned four-year-old for an impressive first-up victory at the expense of the Queensland-bound Volpe Veloce in yesterday's Aon Insurance Brokers Premier (1200m) at Te Rapa.
"I'll have to speak to Garry, he might be looking at Brisbane," Baker said. "If not Brisbane, then she'll be a good mare for Melbourne in the spring."
Love Affair settled one off the fence near the pace and when rider Matthew Cameron asked her to sprint 300m from home she quickly cut loose to put the issue beyond doubt.
Volpe Veloce turned in a solid effort to open her campaign and is set to head to Queensland in May.
- NZ Racing Desk
