Eavesdropper (USA) is off the mark in Australia following Downton Abbey’s victory at Wellington in NSW on Saturday.

Downton Abbey (2f Eavesdropper – Miss Courteous by Tabkir) started a $2.20 favourite in the Elders Finance Maiden Plate (900m) and bridged a big gap in the straight to win running away.  She was a $10,000 graduate of the Peter Milling 2012 Dubbo yearling sale.

Downton Abbey was bred and sold by Emirates Park and is one of four starters for Eavesdropper since the beginning of the new season.  She is from an unraced half-sister to Melbourne stakes winner Under The Floor (Secret Savings).

Forbes based owner-trainer Frank Hayes confirmed the filly would be sent for a spell and set for the 2013 Wellington Boot.

Eavesdropper served his first southern season at Emirates Park in 2009 after initially commencing his stud career in North America.  He sired four USA-bred crops and there has been one stakes winner among 79 individual winners to date.

Eavesdropper is a stakes winning son of Kingmambo and is a half-brother to all-conquering sire A P Indy.  Emirates Park advertises him for a $5,500 (inc gst) service fee.