Abbey Marie finished over the top of Silent Sedition to take out the 2016 Australasian Oaks and record her third race win from as many race starts.
Abbey Marie recorded a maiden Group 1 victory with a tough win in the Australasian Oaks. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Jockey Luke Nolen settled Abbey Marie in the second half of the Australasian Oaks and the Redoute’s Choice filly was able to find a nice rhythm, while Jacqui’s Joy took up the running from Bengal Cat.
There were plenty of moves when the field came around the turn and it was C’est Beau La Vie that hit the front at the top of the straight, but Craig Williams was eventually able to fins clear running on Silent Sedition and she looked like the winner at the 200 metre mark.
Abbey Marie was one of the widest horses on the track, but she made up plenty of ground in the final stages of the race and finished over the top of Silent Sedition to deliver Mick Kent his first Group 1 victory since he took out the 2011 edition of the Australian Oaks with Absolutely.
The victory capped off an incredible training performance from Kent, who was able to get Abbey Marie to a Group 1 victory in just her third race start.
Abbey Marie made her racing debut with a narrow victory over Montana in The Cove Hotel Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown on March 23 and she went into the Australasian Oaks on the back of a classy victory in the JRA Handicap (1440m) at Caulfield on April 23.
Silent Sedition started the Australasian Oaks as favourite and she produced another very strong performance, but she was no match for Abbey Marie in the final stages of the race.
The War Chest filly took out the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on March 19 and she stamped herself as a leading Australasian Oaks contender when she beat C’est Beau La Vie to take out the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 23.
C’est Beau La Vie started the Australasian Oaks at a very big price, but she also produced another brave performance to finish a more than credible third.
The 2015 edition of the Australasian Oaks was taken out by Perth filly Delicacy, who went on to take out the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2400m) a fortnight later before she took out both the Group 2 Cox Stakes (2100m) at Ascot on December 19 and the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on January 2.
