Paul Messara’s Alverta will begin her final campaign when she takes to the track for the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes this Saturday April 9, 2011.

The seven-year-old Flying Spur mare will be first-up in the $1 million race, after having an eight month long spell.

Messara is delighted with Alverta’s recent progress and feels that she will perform well in Saturday’s race.

“I’m very happy with her,” Messara said.

“She is coming along really well.”

While the trainer is hoping for the best, he is also realistic about his horse’s chances against the newly named world’s best racehorse, Black Caviar.

“She’s no chance of winning on Saturday but I expect her to run her usual honest race to start her campaign,” Messara said.

Messara has said that Alverta’s gallant career will end with a Brisbane winter campaign.

“This preparation will be her swansong,” he said.

“She’ll run on Saturday, then maybe the All Aged Stakes before she progresses to Brisbane.

“She’ll have a go at the good races with the (Group I) Winter Stakes to be her final run.”

Alverta, who won eight of her 37 race starts and earned her connections just shy of $1 million in prize money, will retire as a broodmare after her final race.