Multiple Group 1 winning mare Alizee has firmed in the betting for the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes following her win in the Group 2 $250,000 Aquis Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick today.

Alizee, above in blue colours, beats home the favourite Dreamforce in the 2020 Apollo Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The James Cummings trained Alizee has been been trimmed up from $17 to $11 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 29 after she was able to score a decisive second up win in the Apollo Stakes.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman took his Apollo Stakes winning record to seven as he booted Alizee ($3.60) up along the fence to beat the $2.50 favourite Dreamforce.

Veteran galloper Happy Clapper ($5.50) ran his usual honest race and found third position ahead of Verry Elleegant ($9) who was doing her best work at the finish.

Cummings said that he wasn’t disappointed with Alizee’s first up defeat as the odds on favourite when second in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and is looking foward to the rest of her Autumn Carnival campaign.

“She has come back great,” Cummings said.

“We are training her to build throughout her preparation. We weren’t dismayed at all last week, a couple of weeks ago, we thought her run was superb.”

“She has come back and delivered against some strong weight for age horses in excellent fashion.”

Bowman settled Alizee in the first three and stuck to the fence in the straight to hold out Dreamforce by a head.

“I have got a real soft spot for this mare. I have had a lot to do with her recently and was really happy with her first up,” Bowman said.

“She is much more settled in herself and she was really relaxed first up. I was able to take a position today and I am so happy with the way she is going.”