Alverta shakes off bridesmaid title
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Trainer Paul Messara pleased to see Alverta back winning (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Alverta broke the long standing title of bridesmaid on Saturday by claiming the Listed Remedial Building Services Brisbane Handicap 1600m at Eagle Farm.
In 12 of the Black Type races Alverta (M5 Flying Spur-Grilse) has lined up for since her first win at the elite level back in April 2007 in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas, she has finished in the placings eight times.
Trained in Scone by Paul Messara, the mare’s last trip to Queensland produced a third in the Group 1 QLD Breeders & Tattersall’s Winter Stakes 1400m.
Initial plans of retiring after the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival were pushed to the side and Messara opted to press on with the mare this season.
“It’s been extremely frustrating. She’s run into a whole lot of occasions where horses have had better runs in the race than she has and she has missed out of all the favours,” Messara said.
“But I thought it warranted pushing on with her.”
Alverta’s run at Eagle Farm on Saturday proved the mare was able to bounce back to winning form, despite a shaky start.
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Shane Scriven eases Alverta to a win in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (Noel Pascoe photo)
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“She actually overreached and pulled a shoe in the first stage of the race so it was an extremely good win with all things considered,” Messara said.
The mare stumbled on jumping from barrier one but jockey Shane Scriven was quick to recover and set about finding a handy position on the rails one back from the leaders.
A parting through the leaders opened on turning and the mare was able to stretch away to finish a length ahead of Nellie Got There (Sean Cormack).
Hard to Catch (Joe Bowditch) finished in third a further long head back after a good challenge in the final straight with Nellie Got There.
“It was a fantastic ride, 10 out of 10. The horse performed as we thought she would,” Messara said.
“I don’t know how easy she did it. I mean the jockey got off and said it was pretty easy.
“She found another gear when he gave her a slap at the 200m. In saying that, she had a lovely run and didn’t cover any extra ground.
“It was just a perfect ride so that always helps.”
In the past the mare has suffered with soundness but Messara is confident these issues have been pushed aside.
“She’s had some soundness issues in the past but now she’s sounder than she has ever been there is no reason why she won’t keep on improving,” Messara said.
“We finally got to the bottom of them and as she’s matured she’s working well.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – November 17 |
