Trainer Mick Kent has revealed that he will set unbeaten Group 1 winner Abbey Marie for the 2016 Myer Classic (1600m) on Derby Day, when she resumes during the Spring Carnival.
Group 1 winner Abbey Marie will be set for the Myer Classic at Flemington in late October. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Abbey Marie only made her racing debut in late March this year but has already more than stamped herself as one to watch; comfortably taking out a pair of Victorian minors before delivering a talented field defeat in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 7th.
Revealing that the daughter of Redoute’s Choice suffered a couple of setbacks in her time away from racing, Kent told Racing Victoria that Abbey Marie is on track from a first-up run in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) a fortnight prior to the Myer Classic 2016 on October 15th.
“She had an abscess in her abdomen and it didn’t respond to antibiotics so we just wanted to be really proactive with her and sent her to hospital and she’s got over that really well and has had five weeks in the paddock,” Kent said.
“We’re running out of time a little bit with her but all being well she’ll resume in the Tristarc Stakes into the Myer and they’ll be her two runs for the spring.
“It’s still a bit of a tight schedule but she’s coming along really well at the moment and if all things go well I think she’ll get there.
“She’ll probably have only the one jump-out so it’s a bit of an ask for her but there’s no other races for her at the end of the spring and I’m really keen to give her another race before the autumn.”
Abbey Marie was led to the fore of the field rounding onto the final straight in the Cove Hotel Maiden (1300m) at Sandown on debut; mustering an impressive turn of foot to find the line a length in the clear of closest rival Montana.
Caught wide in the JRA BM70 (1440m) on April 23rd, Abbey Marie showed a glimpse of her class with another big late effort to savage the line two lengths ahead of an eleven-strong field.
There were some question marks over whether or not Abbey Marie was both up to the class and capable at the distance when she lined up for the Australasian Oaks, but her typically-smart performance suggests that the Myer Classic is an ideal Spring Carnival target.
