Exceed and Excel gelding Piracy broke the ice in the 1100 metre maiden providing James Cummings with his first metropolitan winner of the new season.
The son of Group II winner Plagiarize, showed the benefit of race fitness,
improving on a first up second at Hawkesbury to win by a head at his fourth
start.In the very next race, Sepoy filly Alizee was sent out a hot favourite, despite looking above herself in condition and woolly in the coat.
Second to Tulip in the Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes in her first brief preparation of three starts during the autumn, Alizee franked the strength of that form when forging clear to win by the best part of a length.
"I really liked that she could produce that off just one trial," said James Cummings.
"There is clearly a lot of improvement to come.
"She worked with Piracy on the weekend and we were confident both horses could come here and race very well."
Now that Alizee has cast off maiden status, there will be bigger fish for her to fry.
"She has a big action and a big motor to go with it," said Cummings.
"We certainly have Black type aspirations for her and the Princess Series could be the right circuit for her."
Alizee is the fourth winner from Exceed and Excel mare Essaouira, who is also the dam of Group III placed Mogador as well as Group I winning colt Astern, who stands at Darley this spring at a fee of $38,500.
Essaouira has a two year-old filly by Animal Kingdom (USA) called Leopard and a yearling colt by Brazen Beau.
She is due to foal to Astern's sire Medaglia D'Oro (USA) this spring.
Alizee's sire Sepoy stands at Darley this spring at a fee of $16,500.
