Abbey Marie has broken through for a maiden win at the highest level in only her third career start this afternoon; producing a perfectly-timed sprint to win the featured Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville this afternoon.

Abbey Marie finished over the top of Silent Sedition to win the Australasian Oaks. Photo by: Jenny Barnes

Abbey Marie had not raced over a distance greater than 1440m leading into the Australasian Oaks, but interestingly figured as outright second-favourite to win the fillies’ feature this afternoon.

Jumping from the gates well, jockey Luke Nolen elected to take a position within the capacity field as Jacqui’s Joy, Bengal Cat and Lopartega took up the early running.

Rounding onto the straight back and with plenty to do, Nolen found a gap between runners with 400m to run and a clear line to the finish; asking for an extra effort late and greeted with a particularly scintillating turn of foot to pip race favourite Silent Sedition on the line.

Trialling well in the lead-up to her competitive debut, Abbey Marie immediately stamped herself as a filly to follow when taking out the Cove Hotel Maiden (1300m) at Ladbrokes Park by a length on March 23^rd.

Caught wide in the JRA BM70 (1440m) from the outside at Caulfield a fortnight ago, the Redoute’s Choice filly perhaps gave her best indication of what was to follow when charging clear and savaging the line for a near-two length success, regardless of the horror run in transit.

Silent Sedition remained on the top line of Australasian Oaks betting all week and appeared to have the race sewn-up with 200m to run, before being pipped on the line.

The War Chant filly contested a far-more tradition lead-up to this afternoon’s feature race at Morphettville; taking out the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on March 19^th and running second in a talent-rich Sandown minor over a mile on April 9^th before winning the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) a fortnight ago.

Local hope C’est Beau La Vie produced a typically gutsy performance to finish third in the Australasian Oaks; beating smart David Hayes and Tom Dabernig runner Sacred Eye by half a length.

Punters who backed Abbey Marie with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on a generous quote of $7 for success this afternoon.

2016 Australasian Oaks Results