Abbey Marie continues unbeaten sequence
Her sister Absolutely won a Group One Oaks and Abbey Marie might be given her chance as well after maintaining an unbeaten start to her career at Caulfield.
The Mick Kent-trained Abbey Marie ($9) stepped out for her second start in Saturday’s JRA Handicap and came from last to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Lyuba ($4.40) with a long neck to Francais ($11) third.
Kent trained Absolutely to win the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) on a wet track in Sydney in 2011.
This year’s Australian Oaks has already been run and won, but the Australasian Oaks over 2000m in Adelaide in two weeks is a consideration.
He said the Listed Adelaide Guineas over 1600m a week later was the race he had been planning on sending Abbie Marie too.
But he hasn’t ruled out a shot at the Oaks.
“I could even have a throw at the stumps in the 2000-metre race,” he said.
“I’ll just see how she comes through it and see what the race looks like.”
Jockey Luke Nolen said Abbey Marie was still a work in progress but felt the win had plenty of merit because the filly had to make a long run.
Nolen was tracking Backstreet Lover ($5.50) but was going too well for that horse and had to peel out and start his winning run.
“I was on the back of the right horse but it took me nowhere,” Nolen said.
“So for her to come off the bridle around the corner and still win well, it was quite impressive.”