Multiple Group 1 winner Alizee is still in contention for the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 after scoring a narrow by impressive first up win at Rosehill last Saturday.
Alizee, above in the Godolphin royal blue colours, wins the Missile Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman gave Alizee an easy run to the line and even tough Invincible Gem ($17) was closing in quickly, the $1.30 favourite was never going to get beaten and went on to record a neck win in the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m).
The James Cummings trained Alizee remains in the mix to fill Godolphin’s slot for The Everest but still has some strong opposition to contend with from several stablemates which includes five times Group 1 runner up Osborne Bulls.
“If she is in for her best preparation she certainly gives it a shake, whether she is the one, 600kg of horse power, that we choose for The Everest…,” Cummings said.
“One thing that would come into our thinking is whether she would handle the atmosphere of The Everest as easily as another horse. Osborne Bulls has been there and absorbed the atmosphere before, being such a high pressure event.
“The thing about Alizee though, the more pressure in the race the better she’ll go. She has won another weight for age race today and has built up an incredible portfolio for a wonderful mare that we are happy to be training again this season.”
Cummings was impressed with the way Alizee was able to handle a slowly run race and still be able score an easy win and the Godolphin trainer will monitor the mares’ recovery before confirming a start in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 24.
“We have a few options, we could wait for a race like the Sheraco (September 14), but the Winx (Stakes) is there in a couple of weeks and she’ll have had the run under her belt,” Cummings said.
“That’s worthwhile considering but the critical thing will be how she pulls up after, what looked to be on face value a tough run, sweeping out wide.”
Alizee is currently quoted at $13 at Ladbrokes.com.au for The Everest while her stablemate Osborne Bulls is on the second line of betting at $7 behind the early $5 favourite Santa Ana Lane.
Early betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Arcadia Queen, Pierata, $9 Sunlight, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Redzel, $13 Alizee, In Her Time, $15 Brutal, Enticing Star, Ten Sovereigns, $17 Yes Yes Yes, Graff, $21 Hot King Prawn, Zoustyle, Nature Strip, $26 Advertise, The Bostonian, $34 Vega Magic, Zousain, $41 or better the rest.
