Trainer James Cummings has declared Alizee to be at her best to take on a top class field in the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Alizee, above, will be at her best for the 2019 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
“She’s just flying,” Cummings said.
“She’s just in the best form, she couldn’t be any better in herself.”
“I’d imagine the horses we saw run well in the Orr Stakes a couple of weeks ago have still got plenty of juice left in the tank to run well again.”
“Brave Smash is bound to improve and Land Of Plenty is a serious horse – Alizee is going to have to bring her very best.
“It would be our expectation that she’s capable of running a really good race again.”
Alizee is the rock solid $2.30 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Futurity Stakes after two first class performances to win the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick on December 29 following by an effortless win in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 2.
The Godolphin owned Alizee was sent for a break after winning the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Legacy Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on day two of The Championships during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival and a win in the Futurity Stakes will make it her fourth win in succession.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on Alizee who has drawn awkwardly at barrier eleven in the twelve horse Futurity Stakes field and the Godolphin royal blue colours will also be worn by the Cummings trained Hartnell ($18) and c ($12).
Dwayne Dunn will ride veteran Group 1 winner Hartnel who will jump from gate eight while Best Of Days has drawn the rails with Craig Williams on top.
Hartnell couldn’t match it with his stablemate Alizee over 1200m in the Expressway Stakes when last of the five runners but will be better over the Caulfield 1400m while Best Of Days is also fitter for one run back from a spell for a first up fifth to Manuel in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
