Classy mare Pearl Of Alsace returned to summer racing with a vengeance when claiming a narrow victory in the opening event at Ellerslie, the Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes (1600m).
The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-prepared five-year-old hadn't been seen since finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa prior to Christmas, after completing a spring campaign that included placing behind Ladies Man in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). She then headed to Melbourne for a hit-and-run mission in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, where she finished close-up in fourth.
The daughter of Tavistock came into Saturday's contest off the back of a trial over 1100m at Tauranga, plus a stint at Ruakaka for some beach work, and stripped in good condition for her first-up assignment where punters backed her into the $2.20 favourite in the seven-horse field.
Rider Michael McNab gave her the perfect trip in fourth before asking her to join issue shortly after straightening, where she quickly claimed pacemaker Klairelle and looked set for a hollow victory.
To her credit, Klairelle kicked back strongly and made it a close contest in the end, however Pearl Of Alsace always had the situation in control and took the win by a head, with Cheval D'Or battling well for third.
Ritchie was pleased with the effort, after commenting pre-race that he felt his charge would have to perform with credit to justify a start in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha at the end of the month.
"I'm delighted as it's always nice to win a race on Auckland Cup Day," Ritchie said.
"I felt he (McNab) was quite soft on her as when they are going over a mile first-up you don't want too tough a run, and she should derive a lot of benefit for the Group One coming up.
"She had the other one covered, but it was a great effort by that horse as well.
"She has run the mile out well and we won't do too much with her, just give her a couple of run-a-longs to keep her up to the mark.
"We wanted to get the right-handed monkey off her back as she hasn't won this way around, so it was a nice result."
The victory took the mare's career record to seven wins and two placings from just 12 starts, with prizemoney earnings of over $291,000.
Bred and raced by Pencarrow Stud's Sir Peter Vela, Pearl Of Alsace is out of the stakes-placed Danroad mare Irion, who is also the dam of progressive Zoustar filly Zourion who took out the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) during her two-year-old season.
She comes from a well sought after family, with her Super Seth half-sister selling for $700,000 from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in January.
