WA mare arrives in Sydney ready for Autumn Carnival features
As if making the trek from Perth to Sydney could present enough challenges, Alsephina arrived there early on Thursday morning fit and well having had to make her way there via a few days in Victoria.
Grant Williams is building a steady record travelling his horses from Western Australia for eastern states features and after a campaign last year that delivered a win, two placings and fourth in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) behind the likes of Atishu, Amelia’s Jewel and Socks Nation, the six-year-old mare starts in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
“The trip away to Melbourne last spring really helped her,” Williams said.
“I’m looking forward to getting into Saturday to see where we’re at.”
Saturday’s outing will be the daughter of Star Turn’s first racing the ‘Sydney way’ but has worked in the clockwise direction at Mornington this week.
“She galloped on Tuesday morning the Sydney way and she handled all of that really well,” he said.”She changes legs when she needs and she’s so push-button.
“Race day pressure might be different but we’re thinking thinking that she’ll handle it easily.
“She stayed at David Brideoake’s property which she is familiar with.”
A quite look around Randwick on Friday or Saturday morning is all that Williams and training partner Alana need to do to top off Alsephina’s preparation.
“I think that is the smart thing to do,” Grant said.
“Her last campaign was really good and I think she is in a better spot now than where she was leading into that first run at Flemington.
“We’ve got her more forward and she’s already had a trip away which is a plus.”I’m really excited about it.”
All being well after Saturday, Alsephina will head toward the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 15 where she is an $8 chance in futures markets.
The Doncaster Mile and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes – both over 1600-metres – are destinations also on her radar.
Partnered by Kerrin Mcevoy this weekend, the mare is the $4 second favourite with betting apps for the Guy Walter with former Western Australian Amelia’s Jewel the $2.30 favourite.
