Punters assessed the Group III Mrs Mac's La Trice Classic (1800m) at Ascot as a match race between Alsephina and The Velvet Queen and were bang on the mark.
The pair were at the tail of the field as they wheeled around the home turn. Willie Pike made first run on the favourite Alsephina, and the 4yo daughter of Star Turn quickly chased the front runners down.
The Universal Ruler mare The Velvet Queen was outsprinted but was rapidly overhauling the favourite on the line to go down by a short-neck.
The veteran Playing God mare Playing Marika was the same distance back in third.
It was the sixth win on the bounce for Alsephina. The Grant and Alana Williams trainee advances her record to nine wins, a second, and a third from 11 starts with earnings of $397,140.
Grant Williams said Alsephina had shown during the week she was at the end of her preparation.
“I definitely think she came to the end of her campaign today, Williams said.
“She has done a great job and has come a long way this prep, so she can go and have a few months off now. She deserves it. She was showing signs during the week she was getting towards the end.
“The track was hard when she raced last time, and that affected her, and she took a few days to get over it.”
Bred by G & G Bloodstock, Alsephina is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the stakes-winning Street Cry (IRE) mare Delta Gee.
Second to Response in the Group III Matron Stakes and to Lady Lynette in the Group III Tesio Stakes, Delta Gee is a half-sister to Listed winner Wave Rock (Blackfriars)
Delta Gee either missed or slipped in her first five seasons. She has just one foal after Alsephina, the unraced 3yo Supido gelding Tale Of Perth, who is in training with Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
Delta Gee was covered by Brazen Beau in September.
