Godolphin trainer James Cummings has said the team are putting no pressure on their returning Flight Stakes winner Alizee to win first-up in the Light Fingers Stakes 2018 on Saturday.

Alizee is odds-on favourite to win the 2018 Light Fingers Stakes in her campaign kick-off at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The gun daughter of Sepoy dominates the markets on her resuming Apollo Stakes Day run in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), but Cummings knows there will be good improvement to come.

That said, Cummings still believes Alizee will take some holding out in her autumn campaign kick-off with the three-year-old having her maiden start since a third to Aloisia in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) last October.

“We have got our feet on the ground and are not putting too much pressure on her to win first up but she will take some holding out,” Cummings told Racing NSW.

Her Thousand Guineas loss followed successive Randwick wins in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), the latter won by over two lengths.

Back at her preferred track this weekend, Alizee was brought on fitness-wise for the Light Fingers Stakes with a smart 1000m  Rosehill trial on February 5 where she was second to champion sprinter Redzel.

She is one of 14 hopefuls in the race and has drawn ideally in barrier four with her regular rider Glyn Schofield continuing his association.

That plus her class has Alizee paying a short $1.85 in the latest Light Fingers Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, the race won last year by that spring’s Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas double winner Global Glamour.

Cummings confirmed plans to head into the upcoming Group 1 races in Sydney with Alizee who will run second-up on March 3 in the now Group 1 $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) back at Randwick before Rosehill’s Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m).

“We are very happy with her. She has developed again from the spring and is a very exciting filly going into the autumn given her strength and development, not to mention her outstanding record,” Cummings said.

“The Flight Stakes year in year out is a race that throws a top class miler filly and we’re hoping she will be that for us.

“There is definitely improvement to come with a Group 1 a fortnight later.”

Alizee is already the short-priced favourite in pre-field Surround Stakes odds and is also listed as the filly to beat in futures Coolmore Classic betting at bookmakers around the country.

To get behind Alizee first-up on Saturday and to access the best upcoming Group 1 racing odds and offers visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.