Forster keen to target The Wave with See Marie

By Glenn Davis

Promising mare See Marie will have a crucial lead up to next month’s The Wave at the Gold Coast when she steps out in the Class 5 Plate over 1350 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday.

See Marie has started 13 times for four wins and as many placings, and is coming off a first-up win in Class 3 grade on the synthetic track at the Sunshine Coast on December 1.

It was See Marie’s first start since finishing behind the Chris Waller-trained Only Words in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben in May.

See Marie has a stack of black-type in her family tree and is related to top class horses Helmet, Epaulette and Bullbars.

The 4YO is by the recently deceased sire Sebring out of the well-bred mare Annamarie making her a half-sister to Stakes placed Weinholt.

Trainer Desleigh Forster is hopeful the mare, who is raced by Raheen Stud principal Basil Nolan, can continue the stable’s run of good fortune.

“She’ll run in the Class 5 Plate tomorrow then go to the Bernborough Handicap or a Benchmark race over 1600 metres at her next run,” Forster said.

“Her grand final will be in The Wave.

“She was a class above them when she won on the synthetic last start and if we’re looking at a race like The Wave she needs to run well tomorrow.”

The Wave is run over 1800 metres at weight-for-age and carries a purse of $250,00 at the Gold Coast on January 8.

See Marie drew an awkward barrier 9 but few jockeys have a better record at Ipswich than rider Jim Byrne.

The Michael Lakey-trained Enterprise Prince and recent winner Brook Hill from the Bryan Guy stable look two serious threats.

Enterprise Prince has placed at his past three starts, including his latest effort in Class 6 grade at Eagle Farm in October while Book Hill narrowly won a Class 5 over 1400 metres at the Gold Coast last month.

See Marie has always shown ability and was being aimed at the JJ Atkins as a two-year-old but a missed a start in the Group 1 feature.

She subsequently finished fourth in the Listed The Phoenix over 1615 metres at Doomben and fourth in the Listed Mercedes Benz at Eagle Farm before being turned out.

The Forster stable was in brilliant form at Eagle Farm last Saturday winning The Gateway with star sprinter Apache Chase and the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes with unbeaten filly Exo Lady.