G1 Toorak Handicap preferred goal for Alsephina

Grant and Alana Williams are keen to give classy West Australian mare Alsephina another Group One opportunity in the Toorak Handicap, but their decision could be determined by whether star rival Pride Of Jenni takes her place.

Pride Of Jenni is a dual nominee for Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield mile and the Might And Power Stakes (2000m), although she could still bypass both in favour of the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) in Sydney a week later.

Her connections have said all options are on the table, but Grant Williams is hoping the free-running mare opts for a target other than the Toorak Handicap (1600m).

“Like a lot of trainers, we’re just waiting to see what Pride Of Jenni does,” Williams said.

“But we’ve got another 24 hours, my preference would definitely be the Group One.

“Our grand final is the Empire Rose Stakes and we wanted to get there a hundred per cent. I’m just not sure that having to chase a champ like that would suit us going into that mares’ race.

“But you never know. We haven’t made a decision yet. We’ll wait and see.”

Group 1 placed in the Railway Stakes in Perth, Alsephina followed a third in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at her Melbourne debut with a strong win in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last start.

She also holds an entry for Saturday’s Group 3 Catanach’s 150 Years Vase (1600m) where she will be ridden by Blake Shinn, while Jye Mcneil partners her if she lines up in the Toorak.

Williams has enjoyed great success in Victoria and says while Alsephina doesn’t quite compare to the likes of Arcadia Queen, who claimed the 2020 Caulfield-Mackinnon Stakes double, she isn’t far away.

“Any horse that can win a Group One in Perth lines up with most horses over here, and she ran second and probably had a few little issues,” he said.

“I put her up there. She’s not an Arcadia Queen, she is just under that lot, but she is a very capable mare that is very consistent.

“Any race she goes into, she’s a chance. She very rarely runs a bad race for us, so by my eye, I reckon we’ve got her as good as what she’s been.”

Alsephina had a look at Caulfield on Tuesday morning and Williams was happy with her work, declaring her spot-on for whatever assignment she contested on Saturday.