Talented filly See Marie faces her first middle-distance test in The Eagle Way but trainer Desleigh Forster believes she is equal to the challenge.
See Marie steps up from a mile to 1820 metres in the Eagle Farm assignment after she unleashed a barnstorming finish to win at Doomben on November 28.
The Eagle Way is part of the summer staying series for three-year-olds which culminates in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day.
Forster is keen to give See Marie the opportunity to prove her staying credentials over the summer ahead of her long-term goal, the Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“I’ve always said from day dot that she’d be an Oaks filly next year,” Forster said.
“Before she raced I said to her owner, Basil Nolan, this filly will turn out one of the best he’s ever raced.”
Nolan raced See Marie’s dam Annamarie who won four races on provincial tracks in Victoria and Queensland.
Annamarie was a sprinter but her dam Ancelin was a two-mile winner by Sadler’s Wells, while Egg Tart and Criterion are blue riband winners for See Marie’s sire Sebring.
See Marie will be ridden on Saturday by Jim Byrne, who was showered with praise by Forster after having the filly travelling sweetly one off the fence from a wide gate before winning at Doomben.
“I couldn’t believe the odds she was at Doomben,” Forster said.
“The gate was probably the concern for the punters but Jimmy does the form and knew where he wanted to be.
“He was adamant that’s where he was going to be in the run and that’s exactly how it turned out.”
See Marie’s stablemate Red Chase will have his next start in the Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on December 19.
Forster is hoping Red Chase can gain a wildcard entry into the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast by winning The Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm on January 2.
