There were three stakes races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and Darley stallions claimed them all and the third may have been the sweetest of all.
The powerhouse Sepoy mare Alizee showed she had not gone backwards after a three-month ban for bleeding when winning the Listed ATC Christmas Classic at Randwick on December 29 but not even that triumph could prepare fans for the arrogant performance in Saturday's Group II Expressway Stakes (1200m). (photo Steve Hart)
Settled back last of the five runners by Blake Shinn, Alizee gathered in the leaders under her own steam with Shinn sitting motionless.
And this was not a field of second-raters, with the $5.5 million
The ever-consistent Le Romain (Hard Spun) claimed second at a safe two lengths while the outsider Dothraki (Mossman) fought on well for third after leading them up.
"She's a serious animal and at WFA to perform like that is a great thrill," winning trainer James Cummings said.
"To see her go past horses like Trapeze Artist and Le Romain with that sort of comfort was extremely impressive.
"She's had a faultless campaign. We had her up and rolling nice and early in her prep.
"She's a serious mare and I will speak to the guys and if the boys are happy we will progress forward with our plan to run her in the (Group 1) Futurity next time.
Alizee advances her record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 16 starts with earnings of $1,598,200.
The 4yo daughter of Sepoy is a half-sister to the Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes hero and young Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia D'Oro) and the stakes-placed Mogador (Lonhro) as well as to one of this season's most exciting two-year-olds, the current Golden Slipper favourite Tassort (Brazen Beau) who broke his maiden with a dominant display in the Golden Gift at Rosehill on November 24.
Their dam Essaouira showed ability in a career restricted to just two starts.
She won on debut at Moonee Valley before finishing unplaced in a Listed race at Caulfield.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel is the only foal left in Australia by the Group II Magic Night Stakes winner Alizes who was sent to America by Darley Stud.
By the speed influence Rory's Jester, Alizes is a daughter of the Group 1 Galaxy Stakes heroine La Baraka (Euclase) herself out of the 5-time Group 1 winner Triscay.
Essaouira has a yearling filly and a colt foal by Medaglia d"Oro (USA) and was one of 114 mares to visit Sepoy last season at his first season in Victoria.
