Classy filly Alizee will have to overcome a wide barrier if she is to claim a second Group 1 victory in the Group 1 $500,000 James Boag’s Premium Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Alizee, above in royal blue colours, has drawn a wide barrier in the Surround Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Alizee has drawn barrier ten in the eleven horse Surround Stakes field and will be ridden again by Glyn Schofield.
Schofield has been aboard Alizee for six of her last seven starts which includes her win in the Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival and her last start first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 17.
Trainer James Cummings said that Alizee has come through her first up win in great shape, has worked strongly and will be hard to beat again.
“She bounced out of the Light Fingers in good style, she’s feeling really good about herself and she seems to have come on again since last weekend,” Cummings said.
“She turned in a very impressive piece of work at Osborne Park on Tuesday morning.”
“Her fitness needs to go to another level to be competitive here over 1,400m, particularly with the likelihood of a bit of rain around.”
“But we couldn’t be more impressed with the way she’s gone about her preparation so far.”
“There’s an air of confidence about her, she looks set to go.”
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Shumookh was only beaten by a nose when second in the Light Fingers Stakes and Tim Clark will get all the favours from barrier one in the re-match with Alizee.
Victorian trained fillies Shoals and Rimraam will venture north for the Surround Stakes and both have drawn nice barriers.
The Anthony Freedman trained Shoals will jump from barrier four with Josh Parr to ride while Rimraan, from the powerful Lindsay Park stables, has drawn next to Shoals at three with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Alizee as the dominant $2.10 favourite for the Surround Stakes with her nearest rival being Shumookh at $4.60 ahead of Frolic at $9.
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