Abbey Marie chases Cup start in Naturalism

Trainer Mick Kent hopes Abbey Marie can win her way to the Caulfield Cup via the Naturalism Stakes.

A losing margin of a neck has placed trainer Mick Kent under added pressure for a Caulfield Cup start with Abbey Marie.

That margin between Abbey Marie and Bonneval in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 9 has cost the Kent-trained mare one chance at a guaranteed start in the $3 million Caulfield Cup on October 21.

Abbey Marie runs in Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield where the winner is also exempt from the ballot to next month’s 2400m handicap.

“I’m happy with the horse. She’s trained on but we’ll need some luck at Caulfield,” Kent said.

“The trip is what she’s looking for but at Caulfield you need quite a bit of luck, especially with a horse like her that gets back and runs on.

“If she had have won the Dato I would have taken a different path as she would be in the Caulfield Cup, but with 51-1/2 kilos she might need an exemption to get into the race.

“But she’s going the right way this time around I think.”

Abbey Marie currently sits 40th in the entry order for the Caulfield Cup and is a $26 chance.

The winner of the Group One Australasian Oaks at Morphettville as a three-year-old at just her third start, Abbey Marie was struck down by illness shortly after and missed last year’s spring carnival.

Kent said even during a four-run autumn campaign she wasn’t at her best with her closest finish coming over 1400m at Caulfield in February before two wet track flops in Sydney.

The now five-year-old returned with a pleasing seventh to Hartnell in the P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield last month before her second at Moonee Valley.

“I haven’t tried to screw her down yet and have let the races be her work but I’m pretty happy with her health,” Kent said.

“She was unhealthy following her sickness last year for quite a long time but this is the best I’ve had her for quite some time.”

Luke Nolen, who won the Oaks on Abbey Marie and has been aboard for her past two starts, takes the ride on Saturday.