Alizee up in Godolphin’s equine hierarchy with Missile Stakes win

Alizee began yet another preparation with a victory full of promise, this time earning special recognition in Godolphin’s equine hierarchy at Rosehill on Saturday.

But her G2 Missile Stakes success did little to determine her main mission of the Australian spring.

The Missile was Alizee’s ninth victory and her eighth at Stakes level, a total that is bettered only by the recently-retired Blue Point whose nine black-type wins are the record for a Godolphin racehorse.

In a slowly-run race, Alizee settled at the tail of the small field, with jockey Hugh Bowman showing typical confidence and race sense by putting her into contention at the halfway point of the 1,200m race.

The pair joined the lead within a dozen strides and took control soon after, passing the 200m with a three-length break over Invincible Gem, at which point Bowman allowed her to cruise to the post under her own steam.

The lack of pressure over the final section allowed Invincible Gem get to within a neck, but Bowman said he still had something in hand.

For trainer James Cummings the victory was a new-season continuation of the record year during which he and his team guided Godolphin runners to 62 Stakes victories in Australia.

But his only concern was that the three-time G1 winner Alizee had come through her return to racing in good order.

“She’s an outstanding horse and we are lucky enough to have her in the barn,” Cummings said.

“I’m really pleased for her that she’s come back in such good form.”

Alizee’s spring plans won’t be finalised for several weeks, but the filly is in the mix for the $14 million Everest, either as Godolphin’s runner or to occupy another place in the race.

Bowman confirmed he had given Alizee as easy a run as possible.

“It was a slowly run race which didn’t suit and she had to do a bit of work,” Bowman said.

“So I was keen to be easy on her at the finish. It got a little bit close, but she was comfortable. She‘s only going to improve from the run.”

As well as being her ninth win, it was the fourth time in her career that Alizee had opened her preparation with a victory.

Meanwhile, Breeders’ Cup winner Line Of Duty drops back down to a mile for the first time this year in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, France, on Sunday.

The three-year-old colt, who is trained by Charlie Appleby, recorded the biggest victory of his career when staying on well to capture the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over the same distance at Churchill Downs, US, in November.

That victory was the culmination of a progressive juvenile campaign that also featured a comfortable success in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly in October and a maiden win over a mile at Goodwood in September.

Line Of Duty has made two starts in 2019, coming home seventh in the extended 10-furlong G2 Dante Stakes at York in May and ninth, beaten eight lengths in total, in the G1 Derby over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs at the start of June.

James Doyle partners Line Of Duty, drawn seven in the eight-strong field which is headed by G1 Coronation Stakes winner Watch Me and last season’s G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Romanised.

Charlie Appleby explained: “Line Of Duty has won twice over a mile and hopefully there will be a bit of ease in the ground at Deauville.

“He didn’t stay a mile and a half in the Derby and the ground was too quick for him as well. We have left the cheek-pieces on to help him travel and are hoping that he can rekindle his two-year-old form, which should see him make the places.”

Charlie Appleby and James Doyle also team up at Deauville with two Listed runners including King’s Command, who drops down in class for the seven-furlong Prix Francois Boutin after trailing home last over the same trip in the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July.

The two-year-old Dubawi colt made a winning debut in a six-furlong maiden at Newmarket the previous month, when he rallied well to score by a neck. He is drawn one of the six runners.

Charlie Appleby commented: “The ground was too quick for King’s Command in the Superlative Stakes. He won on good to soft going on his debut and is definitely a better horse with cut in the ground, so any rain will be appreciated.”