Trial puts Abbey Marie in Coolmore picture

A morning trot-up is all that is needed for lightly raced mare Abbey Marie to take her place in a Group One race at Randwick.

Abbey Marie is one of 18 acceptances for the Coolmore Legacy Queen Of The Turf (1600m) on Saturday.

Trainer Mick Kent said Abbey Marie only needed to trot up well on Wednesday morning to make the trip to Sydney.

Abbey Marie won her first three starts and accounted for Saturday’s favourite, Silent Sedition, in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville last May before being beset by a number of health issues, including an abdominal infection and laminitis.

Those problems and missing important trials kept Abbey Marie away from the racetrack during the spring before she made her return in February.

Kent gave the mare a gradual build-up and was happy with how she was progressing ahead of the Coolmore Classic on March 11.

But Abbey Marie struck a wet track for the first time and finished 16th of the 19 runners in the Group One contest for fillies and mares.

“She trained really well going into her previous run. I was really happy with her but we hit a snag,” Kent said.

“It’s a solid race on Saturday. Silent Sedition is obviously the one to beat and I’m not sure I want it too wet.

“That last start was her first run on a soft track and even though she had trialled up well on soft ground, it’s different under race conditions.”

Abbey Marie pulled up with hamstring problems following the Coolmore Classic and Kent was concerned he may struggle to get her to Saturday’s race.

But Abbey Marie showed no signs of the soreness when she defeated Caulfield Cup runner Pemberley in a Cranbourne 1190m-trial on Monday.

Importantly the mare was in good shape on Tuesday.

“The physio was happy with her this afternoon so if she trots up well tomorrow we’ll probably come up,” Kent said.

“But I just want to make sure all is well with her.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

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