Awesome Alsephina to announce herself as one of Australia’s best in Saturday’s Toorak Handicap at Caulfield

Grant and Alana Williams’ ace mare Alsephina hits the Group 1 $1 million Hyland Race Colours Toorak Handicap (1600m) this week at Caulfield looking to further announce herself as a fearsome rival to Australia’s best mares. With a dazzling late sprint, Alsephina rocketed to glory in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley two weeks ago, shooting to contention for the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2. However, aside from being a potentially valuable lead-up run to the Flemington feature, this Saturday’s Toorak Handicap shapes as an achievable and lucrative target for the whizz six-year-old. With her new home track of Mornington closed on Tuesday morning, Grant Williams produced the million-dollar mare at Caulfield’s trackwork breakfast. “It was all pretty new for her – it worked out good because she walked in with her eyes popping and it was probably a blessing in the end,” Williams said. “We didn’t go too hard with her – she just banged up the last 400m on the bridle. “The outing will probably do her more good than having to come out here and gallop too hard.” After taking time to settle into her Victorian surrounds, Williams says Alsephina is now thriving in her new environment. “She goes into a paddock during the day and it’s like home for her now,” Williams said. “She’s licking the bin and she’s quite happy with herself. “Soundness and fitness wise, we’ve got her as good as she can be. “I think she’s in a better position than she was going into our carnival last year. “She wasn’t 100 percent sound then with her feet. They’re fine now and we’re really happy with her attitude. “That turn of foot hasn’t been there for a little while, so to see that so explosive was huge for us. “If we can keep her in that sort of form, we’ll be right.” The decision to aim at the Toorak was made easier when it was declared on Tuesday that champion mare Pride Of Jenni would plot an alternate path for her next outing. + Fellow Western Australian gallopers Oscar’s Fortune and Wild Belle will also line up at Caulfield in Group 2 and 3 contests respectively. Oscar’s Fortune, last seen in South Australia’s Group 1 The Goodwood in mid-May, comes up against last start Group 1-winner Mornington Glory in the $300,000 Henley Homes Schillaci Stakes (1100m). Wild Belle is no stranger to Melbourne racing having contested Flemington events in May last year before returning to WA for two wins from her four subsequent starts. She faces a talented crop of mares in the $200,000 Senet Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m), with the field headlined by last year’s The Goodwood winner Royal Merchant.