Alverta's aversion to motherhood proved a blessing in disguise when the classy mare romped home in the Listed Just Now Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.Alverta is raced by Arrowfield Stud supremo John Messara and the breeding tycoon retired her after she was unplaced at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day to be mated with Charge Forward.But when the Flying Spur mare failed to get in foal, Messara's trainer son Paul brought her back into work with the 1300m $75,000 feature in mind and the plan work
Alverta's aversion to motherhood proved a blessing in disguise when the classy mare romped home in the Listed Just Now Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Alverta is raced by Arrowfield Stud supremo John Messara and the breeding tycoon retired her after she was unplaced at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day to be mated with Charge Forward.
But when the Flying Spur mare failed to get in foal, Messara's trainer son Paul brought her back into work with the 1300m $75,000 feature in mind and the plan worked to perfection.
Winning jockey Shane Scriven was at his vintage best and Alverta ($5.50) made light work of her 59kg to defeat Fuhrnatic ($12) by four lengths with La Zeel ($31) a half-length back third.
Scriven rode at Flemington on Cup day and said he took particular notice of Alverta's performance and put that knowledge into play.
"She was always going to win today. She did carry the grandstand but it was a big drop back in class from Flemington and she has a touch of class about her," Scriven said.
"I knew she would find a couple of lengths when I pushed the button but even I was a bit surprised at how easy she did it."
Messara said Alverta would chase more black type in the Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on Boxing Day before being spelled and set for next year's winter carnival.
One opponent already confirmed for Alverta in the Bernborough will be Pepperwood, the impressive winner of Saturday's $75,000 IGT Handicap (1600m).
Pepperwood confirmed he is on track for back-to-back Magic Millions Stayers Cups with the win but his trainer Liam Birchley first wants to win the Bernborough with the five-year-old entire.
"He will definitely go to the Bernborough now and then he can go back to the Gold Coast for another crack at the Stayers Cup," Birchley said.
"He hits the line hard when the pace is on like it was today and I'm sure there's some further improvement still in him."
Pepperwood produced his usual powerful finish to win on Saturday and Birchley promptly pencilled in the Bernborough as his next mission.
Pepperwood ($4.80) was given a sweet run worse than midfield by Michael Cahill and the horse responded to his urgings in the straight to defeat the unlucky My Limit ($3.70 fav) by a three-quarters of a length with Secrets Untold ($4.20) a neck back third.
Cahill tracked My Limit throughout the race and the runner-up encountered a chequered passage in the straight while the winner had a clear run down the centre of the track.