Multiple Group Two-winning mare Our Abbadean is after her first Group One scalp at Hastings on Saturday after impressing with her two fresh-up runs at Hawke’s Bay’s spring carnival.

Trainer Jamie Richards has been pleased with the six-year-old’s first two runs when third in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and fifth in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) a fortnight ago and believes the 2040m distance of Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic will suit the mare down to the ground.

“She’s got a few quirks, she sort of has to have her own routine,” Richards said. “After she ran so well first-up at Hastings we thought we’d go back and have a crack at the Group One (Windsor Park Plate).

“I was really pleased (with her run in the Windsor Park Plate). She drew awkwardly and had to go back on a day where it favoured on-speed and on the fence. She got squeezed up at the 200m and then got a bit of room and finished up nicely for fifth, so we were really pleased with her.

“She has trained on well and seems to get better as she gets deeper into her preparation and especially when she gets up in distance like she will be on Saturday.”

Our Abbadean won over 2000m at Group Two-level in both the Travis Stakes and the Awapuni Gold Cup last season, so her trainer believes she will appreciate the step-up in distance.

“I think she can hold a spot over 2000m, usually she is just outpaced over those sprint distances, but when she won the Travis she was a bit handier, so all things being equal we’d like to ride her a bit handier if we can.

“There are a lot of horses in that field looking for 2000m now, so I am sure it is going to be a very interesting race.”