After missing the spring due to a three-month ban for bleeding, dual Group 1 winner Alizee added plenty of class to Saturday's Listed ATC Christmas Classic and she took up where she left off with a dominant performance that had the Godolphin team in raptures.
The powerhouse daughter of Sepoy settled well back in the field under Hugh Bowman but when she tracked into the race under a minimum of urging, it was a matter of how far.
Only asked for an effort in the last 200 metres, Alizee defeated the fast-finishing Husson Eagle (Husson) by one and a half lengths with Fell Swoop (Not A Single Doubt) a further one and a quarter length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
With her sixth stakes success, Alizee advances her record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 15 starts with earnings of $1,486,850.
"It was a beautiful flowing ride by Hugh Bowman. I loved the way he took closer order with a little bit of cover the loomed up three wide," winning trainer James Cummings said.
"Most importantly as she comes back she looks healthy and in good order so we can plot a path to, maybe, the Expressway (Stakes) second up.
"She's a Weight-For-Age horse all over and it's really exciting to have her back.
"The A-plan was to win about four Group 1's in the spring with her and that was shot to pieces before she ran first-up."
Alizee 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 Gist 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).
