A rain affected track for Randwick on Saturday could see the short priced favourite Alizee scratched from the 2020 Group 2 $250,000 Aquis Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Alizee, above, is the favourite for the 2020 Apollo Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Randwick track was rated a soft 7 on Friday afternoon and even though Alizee has won on a soft rated track in the past, trainer James Cummings is not keen to run the multiple Group 1 winner if he thinks it is too wet for her.
“At this stage it doesn’t seem likely that she’ll get the track she prefers at Randwick and might be kept for the Futurity,” Cummings told AAP.
If Alizee doesn’t go around this weekend in the Apollo Stakes, Cummings will send her to Melbourne to run in the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday.
Alizee has had one run back from a spell for a second to Standout in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 1 and is the current $3.10 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Apollo Stakes.
Cummings said that Alizee has come through the Expressway Stakes run in great style and has progressed nicely for her next Autumn Carnival assignment.
“She motored home stylishly in the Expressway behind a very promising three-year-old,” Cummings said.
“Since then she’s had a very sensible and straightforward build-up.”
The John Thompson trained Dreamforce is challenging Alizee for favouritism at $3.40 at Ladbrokes.com.au and will be having his first run back from a spell in the Apollo Stakes after finishing fifth in the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on 2019 Cox Plate Day.
Alizee has drawn the rails with Hugh Bowman in the saddle while Dreamforce will jump from barrier six with Nash Rawiller on top.
Veteran galloper Happy Clapper is also resuming and is on the third line of betting at $5 just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Verry Elleegant at $5.50.
Tommy Berry takes the ride on Happy Clapper who will jump from gate four while Tim Clark is in charge of Verry Elleegant who drew barrier three in the ten horse Apollo Stakes field.
