Trainer Kris Lees says a good barrier will ensure Absolutelyfabulous will not be giving Hot Danish another massive head start when they clash in Saturday's Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.Absolutelyfabulous carried 53.5 kilograms in the Listed Wiggle Quality (1400m) last start at Randwick on March 7 when she made up a stack of ground to get within a half-length of Coolmore favourite Hot Danish who carried 61kg.Five-year-old Absolutelyfabulous drew barrier nine of 10 that day but has gate
Trainer Kris Lees says a good barrier will ensure Absolutelyfabulous will not be giving Hot Danish another massive head start when they clash in Saturday's Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
Absolutelyfabulous carried 53.5 kilograms in the Listed Wiggle Quality (1400m) last start at Randwick on March 7 when she made up a stack of ground to get within a half-length of Coolmore favourite Hot Danish who carried 61kg.
Five-year-old Absolutelyfabulous drew barrier nine of 10 that day but has gate six in the maximum field of 16 plus three emergencies for Saturday's 1500-metre feature, and Lees wants to take advantage of the good draw.
"We have to use the barrier to a degree and I'm expecting her to be settling midfield and then it's just a matter of getting some luck and clear running," Lees said.
"We can't give her (Hot Danish) as much start as last time."
The mare will carry 51 kilograms, eight less than the Les Bridge-trained Hot Danish.
"She pulled up very well from the run and is the type of horse who never lets you down," Lees said.
"At the weights she gets another crack at Hot Danish but we all know how good she is and we'd need things to go perfectly for us but we give our horse a genuine chance."
Absolutelyfabulous has not won in just over two years since she triumphed in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes (1100m) at Randwick but she hasn't been far away.
Three weeks after the Eskimo Prince she went painfully close to winning the Group Three Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) when she got out late to finish a long neck second to Aunty Betty.
In March last year Absolutelyfabulous ran a head second to November Flight in the Group Three Millie Fox Stakes (1300m).
Eight months later she finished second to Forensics in the Group One Myer Classic at Flemington and two weeks after was runner-up to Bernicia in the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown.
"She's such an honest mare who gives it everything when she races and that will be the case again on Saturday I'm sure," Lees said.
The Newcastle horseman said Absolutelyfabulous would be aimed at the Group One Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 4.
Hot Danish, who is yet to win at Group One level, is the TAB Sportsbet $4 favourite for the Coolmore Classic ahead of Victorian Typhoon Tracy at $6 while Absolutelyfabulous is rated an $11 chance.