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2016 Australasian Oaks - Big Test For Unbeaten Abbey Marie

3 minute read

Unbeaten Melbourne filly Abbey Marie faces a quick jump to Group One company at just her third career start in Adelaide on Saturday.

Mick Kent
Mick Kent Picture: Racing and Sports

Abbey Marie takes on a strong field of quality fillies in the G1 Schweppes Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettvile after impressive wins in shorter events.

The Mick Kent-trained Abbey Marie won on debut over 1300m at Sandown before backing up with an impressive win over 1440m at Caulfield on April 23.

She faces a daunting jump in class and distance but Kent says there is plenty of reasons to feel confident about her prospects, especially as her pedigree befits an Oaks winner.

Abbey Marie is by champion sire Redoute’s Choice and is a sister to the 2011 AJC Oaks winner Absolutely.

“She’s pretty fit,”Kent said. “Whether she genetically can run ten furlongs or not we’ll find out.”

Abbey Marie is drawn to enjoy a soft run from barrier three and wil be ridden by Luke Nolen.

Her rivals include a big contingent of interstate fillies from Victoria, Sydney and Perth.

They include multiple runners trained by David Hayes/Tom Dabernig, Perth’s Grant Williams and Godolphin’s John O’Shea.

Hayes and Dabernig have accepted with Pasadena Girl (Damian Lane) and Sacred Eye (Dwayne Dun).

Sacred Eye is a G3 winner while Pasadena Girl, winner of the G1 ATC Champagne Stakes as a 2YO when trained by Peter Moody, will be having her third run for the stable.

Williams has returned to Adelaide with the Bob Peters-owned pair Arcadia Dream (William Pike) and First Impressions (Glenn Smith) hoping to repeat their success last year with their star filly Delicacy.

Arcadia Dream won the G2 WATC Derby at her last start after she was beaten in the G3 WA Oaks by her stablemate First Impressions.

Arcadia Dream, drawn in barrier 20, will wear bar plates for the first time while First Impressions has recovered from an abscess according to Peters.

“There was an abscess but it burst and everything is fine now,” he said.

Peters admitted that travelling from Perth with fillies is not easy.

“They have come all right, but they didn’t eat up as well as we thought they would,” Peters said.

“It is a big trip and both were affected by the length of the travelling.”

O’Shea will start Asinara and is hoping Artesian gains a start for Godolphin. Artesian is drawn as the third emergency.
Racing and Sports

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