The flying grey British bred mare Alalcance was stunning again winning the Group II Chairman's Qlty (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday and will back up as the short-priced favourite in next week’s Sydney Cup.
Sent forward from her good gate, Tim Clark let a few other speed contenders have their way in an early up front battle before seizing control of the race at the 1600m.
He let her quicken further into her stride at the 800m mark which saw most of the rest come under pressure and she maintained an impressive gallop to beat Birdman (Free Eagle) by 2.6 lengths with Valiant King (Roaring Lion) third.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott confirmed she would back up in the Group I two mile Sydney Cup next Saturday for which she is now rated the $2.50 favourite with TAB.
“It's a program that we've used successfully to win the Cup before.
“So I think she'll handle it well. She's had the right conditioning to get here today and I just can't wait to see her over the two miles.”
Bought for 240,000 guineas at the Tatteralls December Mare Sale in 2023 by McKeever Bloodstock and Waterhouse Bott Racing with a record of one maiden win at the Curragh from four starts, she’s looking a very good buy indeed.
Her Australian record now sits at six starts for four wins, two seconds and over $500,000.
Alalcance is the fourth winner for Galileo mare Albamara, a winner of one race and stakes placed four times. She’s a daughter of the Champion Older Female Stayer in Britain and Germany, Albanova.
She is one of 107 stakes winners for Mastercraftsman who died in 2021.
