2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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Godolphin’s soon-to-return Group 1 winning filly Alizee could be tested in the toughest company this autumn with a possible Doncaster Mile 2018 bid calling during ‘The Championships’.
A winner of three of her nine career starts to date, the three-year-old daughter of Sepoy is gearing up for a return on February 17 in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
Trainer James Cummings also has the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival’s newest Group 1 race, the Surround Stakes (1400m), scheduled for Alizee early on this campaign.
The Surround Stakes takes place at Randwick on March 3 at the same meeting class mare Winx will resume in her delayed first-up run in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Following the Surround Stakes, Cummings has even bigger and better things on the autumn agenda for Alizee who has been tipped as a chance in the Group 1 $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 7.
“You’ll see her in the Light Fingers, Group 2, set weights, on Saturday week at Randwick,” Cummings said in a stable update on Monday.
“And the beauty of her preparation is she can go a few ways, but I would expect her to be certainly nominated in the Doncaster, and at this stage I would love to see that be her grand final this preparation, provided her performances in the lead-up warrant that sort of race.”
The super filly is best known for her victory over the Doncaster Mile track and distance last September when saluting in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) by over two lengths.
She backed-up from that making her Melbourne debut in mid-October but only managed to run two lengths back third as the beaten short-priced favourite behind Aloisia in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
On Monday Cummings gave Alizee her first official trial of the New Year at Rosehill and she was impressive crossing second to The Everest – Darley Classic winner Redzel in the 1000m heat that also featured Winx (5th).
“Alizee had her first public appearance this [Monday] morning at the Rosehill trials, and trialled extremely well over 1000m on the Rosehill course proper,” Cummings said.
“I particularly liked the fact she relaxed beautifully in the middle stages of her trial, but once she hooked into the clear she kept surging to the line.
“She would’ve shown a really beautiful turn of foot sectionally between the two and the furlong, to impress herself upon some pretty good rivals – those team of horses had won over $30 million in prizemoney between them.
“My feeling is she looks ready to go – she pulled up well from the trial within herself.”
Kermadec (2015) was the last three-year-old Doncaster Mile winner, but no filly has saluted in the classic since the great Sunline (1999).
The best finish in the Doncaster Mile results by a filly since was the third place effort of Norzita in 2013.
The Doncaster Mile 2018 nominations close on Monday February 12 along with all others for the key The Championships races followed by updated futures betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
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