Unwanted by punters, having drifted to 80/1 with the TAB, the Theresa Bateup-trained Prized Alwyns was still an eye-catching winner at Canberra on Friday.
First-up for the stable in the 1750m Class One Plate, it was some sort of training effort as the 5YO Prized Icon mare put a streak of eight unplaced runs behind her to score impressively.
In a frenetically run race, Louise Day momentarily found the front on Prized Alwyns from gate 6 before the Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones-trained Zouwase (Billy Owen, $8) took up the running from the Gratz Vella-trained Oh Kelly (Grant Buckley, $100/1).
Turning for home, Day made her move, and upon straightening, Zouwase just held the lead over a bullocking Prized Alwyns, which, despite getting through a lot of work, showed a lot of class and determination from the 200m marker, eventually putting 2.6 lengths on the field when scoring a dominant victory.
Having commenced her career with Bateup, starting three times with the Kembla Grange trainer, Prized Alwyns spent her next five starts under the care of Luke Musson before recently returning to Bateup’s care.
“She is a horse I had originally, and I always thought she had a bit of ability,” Bateup said.
“She is a typical Prized Icon; they want a bit of time and obviously want a bit of ground, and she has taken a bit of time to mature into herself.”
Prized Alwyns’ dam, Zariz Alwyns, also took some time to come to hand, with the three-time winner not breaking her maiden status until her 20th start.
Bred and raced by Tom and Tracey Russell, Bateup is familiar with the family and is happy that connections can enjoy the well-overdue result.
“I actually had a fair bit to do with the family. I trained her mother (Zariz Alwyns), and I’ve had her half-brother and half-sister,” Bateup said.
“Brundee Tom ran third the other day, and that’s her little half-brother, and it’s been a nice family, and I’m really pleased for Tom and Tracey, who bred her and own her.
“They’re suffering with all this wet weather with the cattle at the moment down there at Nowra, so I hope that puts a spring in their step as they’ve been really patient and they are great owners to have in the stable.”
Louise Day, who can be credited for an excellent ride on the Kembla Grange-trained mare, was confident of a strong showing going to Canberra.
“She ran well here when she led and was probably left wanting a bit late with the way the race panned out,” Day said.
“I thought if we could skip to the front, or at least be in the first few, she seems like she stays going that one speed, so it worked well for her today.
In the future, Day believes Prized Alwyns boasts some upside.
“That is a bit of a confidence boost for her for sure,” Day said.
“It’s a class one race and I’m pretty sure she is a maiden, and she has done well; hopefully she can get back on the grass and do the same.”
Bateup will look to continue her winning run next week, with Master Riley racing at Randwick on Wednesday, while the stable has nine nominated for Wagga on Thursday.
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Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Thoughbred Park