Another G1 victory awaits Alizee at Randwick

All the signs are positive for a second G1 success for Godolphin’s classy Australian filly Alizee when she runs in the Surround Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, 3 March.

Already a winner at the top level in the G1 Flight Stakes last spring, Alizee resumed with a courageous victory in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick, and according to trainer James Cummings, she has improved in the two weeks since.

“She bounced out of the Light Fingers in good style, she’s feeling really good about herself and she seems to have come on again since last weekend,” Cummings said.

Alizee will again be ridden by Glyn Schofield who has been aboard in each of the filly’s four wins and was at his best in a tight finish at the end of 1,200m in the Light Fingers Stakes.

With an extra 200m to run here, Alizee looks better suited, but she is bound to encounter strong opposition.

Shumookh who was a close second to Alizee last start and Frolic, who got a long way out of the ground before finishing fourth in the same race, are back to again do battle, while the last start winner Rimraam, an Oaks contender last spring, makes the trip from Melbourne off a last start win at Flemington.

But Cummings is satisfied Alizee is ready for them.

“She turned in a very impressive piece of work at Osborne Park on Tuesday morning,” the trainer said.

“Her fitness needs to go to another level to be competitive here over 1,400m, particularly with the likelihood of a bit of rain around.”

“But we couldn’t be more impressed with the way she’s gone about her preparation so far.”

“There’s an air of confidence about her, she looks set to go.”

While Alizee has strong prospects in the Surround, she will also be competing with the queen of world racing, Winx, for attention at Randwick.

The daughter of Darley’s Street Cry resumes in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes in an attempt to notch her 23rd consecutive victory and 27th overall.