Trainer James Cummings expects Alizee to be in fine shape when she takes on a smart weight for age field in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 2.
Alizee, above, is set to run next in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Alizee missed the 2018 Spring Carnival after winning the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Legacy Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick at the end of the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival but had a one off appearance during the Summer for a win in the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick on December 29.
Cummings sent Alizee to the barrier trials at Rosehill on Tuesday and the Sepoy four year old mare finished the 900m off in strong fashion to claim third spot behind Endless Drama and Showtime.
“We were delighted with her. She just really ate up the ground beautifully late which is her custom,” Cummings told Sky Racing’s Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“She looks like she is bidding her time beautifully now in between runs.”
“You will see her next in the Expressway Stakes at weight for age and it looks like being a good little line up there.”
“Winx won’t be there, of course, but you might see a horse like Trapeze Artist and horses like Showtime.”
“As you would expect it would be a strong field but she will at least have the advantage of a run under her belt which is nice given that she has had a good while off and we were delighted with the way she attacked the line this morning (Tuesday).”
Alizee was also one of the star fillies during her three year old season with wins in the Group 2 $200,000 McGrath Estate Agents Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and in the Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Mutiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist finished fourth in the other 900m trial on the Rosehill course proper on Tuesday and trainer Gerald Ryan has also pencilled in the Expressway Stakes as the stallion’s 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival launching pad.
The post Alizee in fine shape for Expressway Stakes after handy trial hit out appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
