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By Brad Gray
At Rosehill Gardens

McLaren Motors In Canonbury
It was job done for McLaren on debut in the Canonbury Stakes. Visually, it wasn't outstanding with Spring Loaded taking ground off him late, but the result was never in doubt.

"He accelerated well off a good pace, put a gap on the leader and just got a bit tired the last 40 metres but that's just race fitness, he'll improve a lot from today," said co-trainer Peter Snowden.

"He is not a gross horse so I don't work him that hard, I just want to sustain him for another six weeks."

That race in six weeks is the Golden Slipper and there's none better at peaking a horse for grand final day.

Punters Intelligence shows Snowden's assessment of the run was spot on with a burst from the 400-200m of 11.13s, a length faster than the next best Spring Loaded (11.25s), before feeling the pinch the last 200m. McLaren clocked 12.06s while Spring Loaded ran 11.79s. Magnate ran fifth but had the fastest last 200m closing split of 11.73s.

First look at McLaren!

The @SnowdenRacing1 colt has looked outstanding in his trials @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/BwCn9oQ1cp

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 2, 2019

Just The Beginning For Amercement
What Amercement did in the Widden Stakes was largely a bonus with both James Cummings and Brenton Avdulla suggesting the filly would come into her own out to 1400m and even beyond.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart)

"She was left with a lot to do today but with more strength on her side, she savaged the line and is an exciting filly," said Cummings, "Once she gets herself organised she has got a couple of really quick sectionals in her."

Avdulla added, "I was always confident she had good ability but wasn't sure if 1100m would be too short. Maybe that testing ground today helped her."

On Amercement's sectionals, she ran 11.23s for her 400-200m before sustaining that to the line with an 11.85s last 200m. That was only bettered by Rotator in second (11.80s), another promising filly herself.

"She still raced greenly but she certainly has a lot of ability and there is a lot more to come," Glyn Schofield said of the runner up.

The overall time of the Widden was fractionally quicker than the Canonbury but the first 500m was run five lengths faster than the colts division with Giselle Anne running along in front.

'Queen' Alizee On Expressway To Autumn
Alizee could win just about anything she is set for this autumn. That's how well the mare has returned and Blake Shinn concurs.

"She is just a queen," Shinn said after his first ride on the four-year-old giant.

"She was a pleasure to ride, it was really nothing more than a track gallop for her out there, I barely even moved on her. I tried to look after the best I could in the ground."

Punters Intelligence reveals the race was run at a gentle tempo by Dothraki but it didn't stop Alizee sweeping home from last running her last 600m in 33.72s, 3.5 lengths superior to the next best which was Le Romain (34.26s).

James McDonald was thrilled with the return of Le Romain, "He was unreal. That was a fantastic return, he is right on track and going as well as ever."

As for Trapeze Artist, Tim Clark quipped, "They went too slow, he just overtravelled a little bit. He is a better horse with high pressure and has never loved that ground either."

How did it all unfold for Alizee?

Here’s the Punters Intelligence sectionals for the race @racingnswPI pic.twitter.com/QcNEf21Y6a

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 2, 2019

Don't Sell Out On Girl Tuesday
It was an inglorious eighth for Girl Tuesday that left many scratching their head, including Chris Waller. The unbeaten record is gone but Kerrin McEvoy warned punters to not sack her.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos)

"She felt fine," said McEvoy, "She settled back from the gate and the tempo wasn't great. We moved into it and she levelled out the last furlong. She is going to be better with the hit out under her belt so don't sell out on her yet."

Waller added, "It was plain but it was on a Soft 7 track first up... I would have disappointed had she loomed and got tired but she never got into the race."

As for the winner, the gelded version of Seaway returned with a dominant victory and his best is still to come.

"We are still learning a bit about the horse, he has been a late developer and a weaker type of horse. He'll keep improving as he gets older," said Waller.

Check out the results and replays for Expressway Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens.

Check out the results and replays for Expressway Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens.