Godolphin fillies hold strong hand in G1 Coolmore
A run for classy filly Alizee in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill could depend on the weather, but the Godolphin presence in the race will be strong under any circumstances.
Trainer James Cummings has accepted with both Alizee and Raiment and he believes either filly is capable of delivering the stable’s second G1 prize in as many weeks.
Under most conditions Alizee would be one of the better prospects over the 1,600m of the Coolmore.
Already a G1 winner at the trip in the Flight Stakes last spring, Alizee made a stunning autumn return, winning the G2 Light Fingers Stakes last month before finishing sixth in the G1 Surround Stakes where the daughter of Sepoy raced as though she was looking for more ground, which she gets on Saturday.
“She’s coming out of her last start in the Surround Stakes where a lot of things went her way but she was unable to finish off,” Cummings said.
“Other than that, she has done really well since the Surround, we’ve upped her work a little and she’s responded.
"We’re conscious that three-year-old fillies have a good record in the Coolmore but it’s going to take a top filly to beat those mares under the conditions.”
Should Alizee be absent, Cummings is satisfied Raiment can step up.
“We feel like she’s in perfect condition, the prospect of rain is a positive for her and she is well-in with Dixie Blossoms who beat her last start,” he said.
“The mare worked very strongly on Tuesday morning with a bit of moisture in the grass track at Osborne Park and she looks like she’s ready to run a very big race.”
“She’s third-up here and when you look back to the third-up run she produced last preparation where she streeted her rivals, then you can see her being extremely competitive.”
In a highly-competitive handicap, the last-start winner Dixie Blossoms again looks the horse to beat, which, in turn, points to the prospects of Raiment who was narrowly beaten by her at Randwick two weeks ago.
Raiment meets Dixie Blossoms 3.5kg better on Saturday and is expected to be fitter for two runs this time in.
Other prospects include the Melbourne fillies Silent Sedition and Oregon’s Day and the locals Daysee Doom, Egg Tart and Heaven’s Above.
