Talented mare Alverta vindicated a decision to delay her stud career when she claimed the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm.Prominent breeder John Messara planned to retire Alverta following the Brisbane winter carnival when she was placed in three of four stakes races including her Group One third in the Winter Stakes (1500m) at Eagle Farm in June.It took a lot of convincing from Messara's son Paul, who trains the five-year-old mare at Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley, before it was eventual

Talented mare Alverta vindicated a decision to delay her stud career when she claimed the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Prominent breeder John Messara planned to retire Alverta following the Brisbane winter carnival when she was placed in three of four stakes races including her Group One third in the Winter Stakes (1500m) at Eagle Farm in June.

It took a lot of convincing from Messara's son Paul, who trains the five-year-old mare at Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley, before it was eventually decided to allow the daughter of Flying Spur to race on for another season.

Since Alverta returned home from her Queensland sojourn, she's been placed in three of her past four spring starts before returning to Brisbane to smash her losing streak with a length win over Nellie Got There in Saturday's 1600-metre feature.

Topweight Hard To Catch, who conceded 4.5 kilograms to Alverta, filled the minor placing a further long head away.

Alverta was runner-up to Prima Nova in the Listed Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford on October 19 before finishing second again to the Jack Denham-trained Nuclear Sky in the Group Three Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) nine days ago.

Alverta's win was her fifth in a 21-start career and her first since claiming the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) in April last year.

Alverta gave Messara a few moments of concern when she stumbled out of the barrier but was then given a perfect run by jockey Shane Scriven.

"I was a bit worried when she knuckled over at the start where she lost a shoe, so it was a good effort," Messara said.

"She's close to needing a break now but she'll now go for the Recognition Stakes here in a fortnight.

"Long term we're looking at the Winter Stakes in Brisbane next winter but in the meantime she'll be set for the major autumn racing in Sydney next year.

"She's got to run in set weight races from now on to be competitive as she gets too much weight in handicaps."

Messara credited Alverta's consistency to a change in shoeing.

"She's always been badly conformed in front but she's turned her form around since we changed the way we shod her," he said.

Hard To Catch's trainer Pat Duff is looking forward to a rematch with Alverta in the Recognition Stakes.

"She won't beat him in the Recognition," declared Duff.

"That was a great run under his big weight. Had we swapped alleys I think Hard To Catch would have won.

"I'll be happy to take on Alverta next time. She should go up in weights so the turnaround should favour us."