Two of WA’s best ever mares reignite rivalry in NSW when Alsephina and Amelia’s Jewel clash in Guy Walter

Two of the best mares to come out of WA will lock horns in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Proven Thoroughbreds Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at New South Wales’ Randwick racetrack when Amelia’s Jewel and Alsephina reignite their rivalry. The two met in Melbourne last November when WA expat Amelia’s Jewel got the better of the argument but still found local mare Atishu a head too good in Flemington’s Empire Rose. Two lengths away Alsephina was a gallant fourth and returned to WA for a spell before warming up with a trial victory at Pinjarra a month ago. But after another stealthy hit-out in WA, top trainers Grant and Alana Williams sent her back to Melbourne and after a 12-hour trip to Sydney during the week, she lines up as a $4.60 TABtouch second fancy behind Amelia’s Jewel ($2.30). “She had another sneaky trial in the meantime, so she’s had two. She just had an unofficial one with a few horses and she did enough,” Grant Williams said. “She’s pretty good. She probably hasn’t settled in as good as I would’ve liked, but she’s trucked up here from Melbourne and it’s a bit of a trip. “She flew to Melbourne last Thursday and she was able to gallop on the grass at Mornington on Saturday, and she went the Sydney way around (clockwise) on Tuesday. “Alana said she didn’t think that we needed to do that (clockwise) because she didn’t think she’d have a problem with it, and she was right again. “She’s done plenty of work and we’re pretty happy with where she’s at. Give her 24-hours and hopefully she’ll kick back after the truck ride. I thought how she was in Melbourne, we probably had her better than last time we were here.” Alsephina’s last campaign in Melbourne was a coming-of-age preparation, claiming the Stocks Stakes before placing in the Toorak Handicap. Williams said the six-year-old will stay in Sydney for her next run in the Coolmore Classic on March 15, with her upcoming performances determining whether she stays east. The training couple also have several runners engaged at Ascot’s fixture, including Wango Award ($11) in the $100,000 City Of Belmont Marjorie Charleson Classic (1200m). “We’ve thrown her in the deep-end a bit. We’re looking for a bit of black type with her and probably the next race over 1400m will suit her better, but she’s trialled up well and in really good order,” Alana Williams said. + Labor has matched the Nationals’ $25 million pledge to regional racing following pressure in recent days after initially backing down on their promise of a grant for club infrastructure. Racing Minister Paul Papalia made the announcement on Friday from Pinjarra Race Club, which will receive $7.5 million of the funding.