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WINNING MOMENTS

Abel Tasman“探险家”新一代天后

The New Diva
2017 G1 COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS 2017马车会橡树一级赛

Of all CHC’s racing elites of 2017, the cream of Photography by Arianna Spadoni
the crop must be Abel Tasman. Following her
triumphs in the G1 Kentucky Oaks and G1 Acorn
Stakes, Abel Tasman made a G1 hat trick in three short
months. Adding her G1 win of the 2016 Starlet Stakes to
the equation, Coaching Club American Oaks is her fourth
G1 trophy.

Taking place at Saratoga Race Course, the G1 Coaching
Club American Oaks is the second leg of the American
Triple Tiara, which also consists of the Acorn Stakes and
Alabama Stakes. The Triple Tiara is open to three-year-
old fillies and seven fillies are eligible for its second leg,
including the formidable Salty, Summer Luck and Elate.

Abel Tasman’s jockey is still her best partner, Mike Smith.
Although in the advantaged barrier No 2, Abel Tasman was
at the rear of the field in the first 400m when Summer Luck
took the lead. But she quickly received the order from Smith
and outpaced all her rivals in the first quarter of the race.
Yet, after the last turn, third favourite Elate came up fast
and gave her a chase. When the dust settled, Abel Tasman
had held off the challenge smoothly and won by a head.

Mike Smith commented: “My filly really waits. Once she
was in there, she was engaged. She got into such a pretty
stride that felt so good, I couldn’t get in the way of it. If I
did, I felt like I was going to hurt her more than help her.”

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