Despite Alsephina going into Sunday’s La Trice Classic at Ascot with three consecutive wins, Grant Williams and Willie Pike agreed to let her take her time and sit off the pace a little.
They felt she was a little eager early in her last-start victory in the Starstruck Classic two weeks ago.
The tactic was a masterstroke, with the four-year-old mare going on to win a thrilling Group 3 feature over 1800m at the post, The Velvet Queen a close second.
2022 La Trice Classic Replay – Alsephina
Pike once again proved he is a star in the saddle, timing the run home to perfection and pulling the trigger at the right moment over his rival Chris Parnham.
“We just didn’t want to put her in as close today because we thought we probably left her as a shooting duck,” triumphant trainer Williams told Sky Racing, referring to his young gun’s last-start victory when she pipped Gunmetal Grey.
Gunmetal Grey finished fourth on Sunday.
“We wanted to keep an eye on The Velvet Queen. Sentimental Queen we thought we’d follow it,” Williams added.
“So we were only a horse behind where we were.”
Williams said his mare will deserve a spell after her triumph in the race worth $150,000.
“She deserves the paddock now. Looking at that run today, I think she’s definitely come to the end of her campaign,” he said.
“She’s done a great job. She’s come a long way this prep.
“She’ll have a good few months off now. I think she deserves it.”
Williams saw indications that Alsephina was due for a break leading up to the La Trice Classic.
“She was starting to show signs during the week that she was probably getting towards the end,” he said.
“She had a gallop on Monday and got the tick of approval, so we pushed on.
“Now she’s a Group 3 winner.”
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