Talented mare Ay Dee Bee continues her build up to the Tamworth Cup at Muswellbrook on Monday.
The Luke Griffith-trained five-year-old, a Greg Ryan mount, tackles the Arrowfield Stud Hcp (1280m).
On the comeback trail after undergoing an operation to correct a hairline joint fracture, the daughter of Catcher In The Rye showed first up she’d lost little of her talent despite a 359-day lay-off.
“She came back fairly gross and we just took our time getting the weight off, always mindful of the injury,” Griffith said.
“After winning at Muswellbrook last April, she pulled up sore.
“That’s when we found the hairline fracture. They operated and put screws in which have been subsequently removed.
“She’s a big solid horse and she spent a lot of weeks on the aqua walker to get her right.
“Her first-up run was very good and she’s pulled up great.”
Ay Dee Bee resumed with a solid 1-1/2 lengths second to Maroney Avenue over 1110m at Scone on March 23 when ridden by apprentice Jarrod Woodhouse.
Her previous form was ultra-consistent with an overall record of six wins and four placings from 12 starts.
Ay Dee Bee was purchased as a yearling at Scone by Wayne Brown.
“She’s always shown ability right from day one,” Griffith said.
“She’s a pretty smart horse who basically had only one preparation before the injury.
“The plan is to give her another run after Monday then step into the Tamworth Cup. She should get in with a nice weight with her Benchmark rating (currently 73).”
The $60,000 Tamworth Cup is staged over 1400m on April 29.