Alizee impressive in trial win

An extra level of anticipation was added to the return to racing of Godolphin’s star colt Astern when his half-sister Alizee made a stunning, public debut in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.

The filly by Sepoy from Exceed And Excel mare Essaouira looked the part and ran accordingly, clocking the fastest time of the six two-year-old trials without coming under pressure.

Assistant trainer Darren Beadman said Alizee had been sent out for a serious trial and had turned in a most encouraging effort.

“We wanted her to have a positive morning and she’s produced a good, professional effort,” Beadman said.

“She did everything right, jumped well, relaxed, travelled smoothly. James Doyle rode her and he said she’d handled everything very well.”

Astern established himself as Godolphin’s top Australian two-year-old last season and returned as a Spring three-year-old to score a G1 victory in the Golden Rose.

The colt trialled impressively on January 23 and is due to have another barrier trial before resuming racing in the G1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 18.

Another impressive prospect for Darley stallion Sepoy emerged with the narrow but impressive trial win of Tiki Bar.

Tiki Bar had only minimal pressure applied in what was her second, winning trial, having previously appeared in public last September.

While Alizee and Tiki Bar provided the winning highlights, each of the 12 Godolphin youngsters to trial on Tuesday performed well, with Epidemic, a sister to the G2 winner Impending indicating he had inherited a good share of the family ability with his second placing.

Others to figure prominently included Schubert, a Lonhro colt from the family of the good racehorses and successful stallions Snitzel and Hinchinbrook and Sanctioned, a brother to the Stakes winner Malice.