There would be few more likeable mares in training than Alizee who took her Group 1 tally to three in Saturday's $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Godolphin's hulking daughter of Sepoy did not have many favours in the run before defeating a star-studded field. Caught wide the trip under Hugh Bowman, Alizee had to dig deep to stave off a courageous Malaguerra (Magnus) by a half-length with the winner's stablemate Hartnell (GB) (Authorized) another half-length away third. (images Grant Courtney)
It made it three from three this campaign after she missed the spring following a bleeding attack.
"She's a beauty," winning trainer James Cummings told AAP.
"She's just in ripping form and that's four wins straight for her and she's a deserving weight-for-age Group One winner.
"They don't hand them out and that's probably the toughest I've seen a horse of mine ever win a Group One in such fashion.
"But she's just been able to absorb the pressure and she's just a brute of a mare.
"When ridden for a turn of foot she can be even better but that's a wonderful quality in a horse to be so versatile and still fend off quality weight-for-age Group One horses."
Alizee advances her record to 8 2 1 from 17 starts with earnings of $1,900,200.
She is now favourite for the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 16.
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 earlier in the day finished second to Time To Reign in the Group II Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.
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 year at his first season in Victoria.
