Darren Beadman expects Godolphin mare Alegria to continue a consistent preparation in the Kensei Handicap at Rosehill.
The five-year-old makes the seventh start of her campaign on Saturday when she renews her rivalry with pre-race favourite Supply And Demand, Tucanchoo and Montauk.
Alegria and that trio occupied the first four placings at Rosehill on June 3 in the Eremein Handicap (1800m), a race Beadman believes has primed her to improve on her third when she steps up to 2000m.
“Her last run put the writing on the wall. She’s just starting to get fit. She’ll strip a lot fitter on Saturday,” Beadman said.
“I’m very happy with her, she’s ticking along good for a Grafton Cup (July 6) or one of those sorts of races.”
Alegria has had no issues with the distance previously in her career, with this preparation including a fourth in the Group Two Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick in April before a seven-week let up.
Randwick was heavy that day and a similar surface is expected at Rosehill with Alegria boasting two wins and two placings on wet tracks.
She was rated a $9.50 chance with the Luxbet on Thursday behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Supply And Demand ($3).
Beadman, Godolphin’s interim head trainer ahead of James Cummings’ arrival next month, also expects impressive showings from Nonpareil and Badajoz in their respective benchmark races.
Three-year-old Nonpareil runs against fillies and mares over 1200m.
“It looks like a nice race for Nonpareil. She’s right down in the weights and she looks like she’ll come off the speed nicely,” Beadman said.
He said Badajoz was well placed for his 1100m-race after finishing second to Kudero and ahead of The Monstar at Randwick on May 27.
“It was a huge run the other day,” Beadman said.
“The form around him is good with The Monstar coming out and winning the June Stakes last Saturday and Kudero (second) franking the form.”
Gaulois will be out to break his maiden at his fifth attempt in the 2YO Handicap (1350m) following an encouraging last-start second at Canterbury.
Guipure makes her debut in the same race but is expected to be more suited to longer trips with Beadman classifying her as a staying type filly.
Former Irish stayer Noumea ($51) makes his Australian debut in an 1800m-benchmark (1800m) with Beadman downplaying the four-year-old’s chances.
“He’s had three trials and he’s run a bit ordinary,” he said.
“We’re just taking our time with him to try and get him to acclimatise.”
