Daily News Wrap

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Alizee in fine fettle

All-Star Mile favourite Alizee (Sepoy) continued her preparation for the $5 million race with a comfortable gallop between races at Flemington.

Rider Hugh Bowman said the multiple Group 1 winning mare was just out for a day out, but was delighted with the work.

"It was a really nice piece of work. She was a little wound up again when I got on her in the mounting yard, but not as much as as she was at Caulfield last start.

“I'd like to see a little more improvement in that department next Saturday.

"Once I got on the track and trotted around she did everything I asked her to do and I'm very pleased.

"She feels amazing. She's got an amazing stride and she's very clean-winded. As fizzy as she is in the prelim, once I get on the track she really relaxes."

Alizee

Filly an exciting prospect

David Hayes believes the best is still to come from Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega {Ire}) after she won her first Australian stakes race at Flemington.

Spanish Whisper won two of her first four starts in New Zealand, including a Group 2 victory as a 2-year-old, before joining Lindsay Park in Victoria after a stable client acquired a controlling interest in the filly.

After finished runner-up in the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. in her return from a spell last month, Spanish Whisper claimed the G2 Kewney S. on Saturday.

"I think she's got it all ahead of her because she's just learning how to do things right," Hayes said.

"She's been a bit aggressive and it's taken a while for her to settle in. It was a good effort. She dug in deep and beat what I think is a very good filly."

Hot start for Winter Bride

Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) has opened her autumn campaign in blistering fashion with success in the G3 Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick.

The Toby Edmonds-trained mare blazed over the 1200 metres in 1.7.73s, not too far off the track record of 1.7.45 held by Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire]).

Winter Bride sat off the hot speed and finished powerfully to beat Spright (Hinchinbrook).

“The race mapped perfectly for her. She knows where the line is, she’s a winner,” rider Tommy Berry said.

Slipper favourite out

Long-time Golden Slipper S. favourite Tassort (Brazen Beau) has been withdrawn from the 2-year-old feature.

Trainer James Cummings informed Racing New South Wales stewards on Saturday morning that the colt hasn’t made the necessary improvement from a foot issue to continue toward the big prize and will be spelled.

Tassort won the Golden Gift on debut in November and was runner-up in the G2 Silver Slipper S. when resuming last month.

Lofty goal for mare

Progressive mare Sandrine (Savabeel) has earned a crack at Group 1 level.

Her latest victory at Ellerslie, the fourth of her 10-start career, has confirmed a tilt at the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. on April 6.

“She’s a lot more mature as a 4-year-old so we’ll look to Te Aroha, she deserves it,” co-trainer Debbie Rogerson said.

Sandrine is raced by her breeder Joan Egan and is a sister to the G2 Tulloch S. placegetter Sir Denzel (NZ) and the family of the Group 1 winning siblings Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}), Fraternity and Telesto.

Memorable win for Colless

Multiple Group One-winning jockey Glen Colless brought up another milestone when he reached 2000 career Australian winners on Gold Coast winner Lucadeal (Lucas Cranach {Ger}).

He started his career in New South Wales's Northern Rivers 35 years ago, but has since ridden in races all over Australia and in Asia.

Colless is best remembered for his association with the star sprinter Mr Innocent (Mr Henrysee {USA}), who won the 2000 edition of the G1 Doomben 10,000.

He won the Brisbane jockeys premiership in 2005-06 when he formed a lethal partnership with now retired trainer Alan Bailey.