New Zealand-breds finished first, second and third in the A$150,000 Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m) on the Crown Oaks undercard at Flemington on Thursday, headed by a lightly raced mare whose star is on the rise.
The aptly named Alma Rise recorded her third win from only a six-start career in Thursday’s Benchmark 80 handicap. The Almanzor mare has placed in all of the other three, including a runner-up finish in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) in April, and has now earned A$203,125 in stakes.
Alma Rise was sent out as favourite on Thursday on the strength of her last-start success at Moe in mid-October, but the four-year-old’s prospects looked less rosy when she was trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the straight.
Jockey Luke Nolen eventually found a way through with around 250m remaining and Alma Rise took care of the rest, pulling clear to win by two and a quarter lengths from fellow Kiwi-breds Le Zeba and Flamin’ Romans.
“I was just glad they stayed on their feet,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains in partnership with Peter Moody. “It got pretty tight, but Luke is very competitive and this is a very good mare.
“She’s really classy. She’s been a bit immature, both physically and mentally, so we’ve taken our time with her. We’ll see how she comes through this one and then take it step by step, but she is a really exciting horse to have in the stable.”
Nolen now boasts a perfect two-from-two record on Alma Rise, having ridden her for the first time at Moe last month.
“I had to fold the mirrors back today and slide through,” he said. “I had a lap full of horse and we got through them pretty well. She won convincingly in the end.
“She wasn’t that impressive or dynamic at Moe last start. She probably should’ve run last. She came off the bridle and was floundering in the wet going. She was far more effective on top of the ground today and is a mare with nice scope. She’ll be better even further out in trip. She’s a stayer with nice class.
“An inexperienced horse in the wide open spaces here at Flemington is pretty daunting. While she put a gap on them, I think she could be more brilliant with the benefit of experience.
“Off-season stakes races are probably the next port of call, and next year she’ll be in the thick of it.”
Bred by Ed Calvert and raced with his family, Alma Rise is a daughter of the Bertolini mare Fashion Black, who won six races.
Fashion Black is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner and sire Xtravagant, whose brother He’s Remarkable won at Group Three level and was Group One-placed on both sides of the Tasman.