If you want the epitome of the sporting phrase “form is temporary, class is permanent” then watch a replay of Alizee’s win at Royal Randwick.

Alizee, her hulking physical presence belying an elegant, effortless stride, absolutely monstered her rivals in the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m).

The Godolphin mare was on the comeback trail after suffering a bleeding attack which forced her out of the spring carnival, she was lumbered with 60.5kg and was conceding race fitness to her rivals.

None of this mattered as Alizee gave a compelling demonstration of her sheer talent to score an exciting win that had both trainer James Cummings and jockey Hugh Bowman searching for superlatives.

“Alizee is a very classy horse and made some capable gallopers look like they were not the real deal which shows how exciting she is,’’ Cummings said.

“She has won that race in really good style and most importantly, as she comes back in, she looks healthy and in great order.’’

Cummings praised Bowman’s stalking ride that had Alizee ready to launch from the top of the straight.

“It was a beautiful, flowing ride there by Hugh,’’ Cummings said.

“I loved the way he was taking closer order there, e took cover behind another runner that was looming up three wide then she did the rest.’’

Bowman said he needed to make use of Alizee earlier than he would have liked to get the mare into a challenging position.

“I had to make a decision mid-race to get her a bit closer and that is where you saw her class,’’ Bowman said.

“It would have looked good to the eye from the 300m but for me it was the ability to make up the four lengths with ease coming to the turn then to spin off that and race clear –she was impressive.’’

Alizee did ease from $2.40 out to $2.90 favouritism on track but once she loomed up wide out on the turn, it was apparent her rivals were racing for second.

The glamour mare ran the 1200m in a very swift 1m 8.77sec, including a brilliant 600m sectional of 33.07sec which only adds to the merit of her winning effort.

Despite the fast race time, Bowman was kind to Alizee as she descended on her rivals before racing clear to win by one-and-a-half lengths from Husson Eagle ($18) with early leader Fell Swoop ($3.20) just over a length away third.

Alizee, a dual Group 1 winner, is racing at an unusual time of the season given she is a genuine carnival contender.

But Cummings explained as Alizee tips the scales at just over 600kg and had an extended period of racing inactivity, he was keen to give her a preparation ahead of the autumn carnival.

“She is race fit at the end of the year and we have a base for the autumn now,’’ Cummings said.

“We can plot a path to the Expressway Stakes second-up and then decide if we take her to Melbourne.

“She is a weight-for-age horse all over and it is really exciting to have her back.’’

Cummings said although Alizee is destined to win better races later in the season it was “extremely satisfying” to have the mare back in winning form.

“The A-Plan was to win about four Group 1 races in the spring but it all went wrong before she ran first-up,’’ the trainer said.

“It has been a long time to get her here as a happy horse, enjoying her training and enjoying her racing as much as she is which I feel is a critical key to have horses like her perform at her best. The team will be pretty stoked with that win.’’

ON SONG FOR WATERHOUSE TEAM
Mister Songman, with his rider wearing the famous Tulloch Lodge stable colours of dark blue and green stripes, streaked away to win at Royal Randwick.

In a brilliant display of sustained speed, Mister Songman ran his rivals ragged in the Vale John Marshall Handicap (1400m).

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained sprinter stopped the clock at a stunning 1m 20.55sec — which is only 0.22sec outside the track record of triple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist.

Adam Hyeronimus returns to scale.

Waterhouse has only recently brought the dark blue and green stripes colours out of mothballs, having used them only sparingly since Dana’s Best won the 2015 Australia Day Cup.

But the colours are synonymous with Tulloch Lodge and were first registered to her father, the late Tommy Smith.

One of the all-time great trainers with 282 Group 1 winners and an original Hall of Fame inductee, Smith prepared his first winner, Bragger, with those colours, in 1942.

Smith’s first Group 1 winner, Playboy won in those colours in the 1949 AJC (now ATC) Australian Derby.

They were worn by the riders of a succession of great champions out of Tulloch Lodge over the years including 1981 Melbourne Cup winner Just A Dash and 1986 Horse of the Year Bounding Away.

“It’s good to have those silks back and that is the way they should be winning,’’ Bott said.

Mister Songman ($1.55 favourite), ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, might be the next topliner to race in the famous colours on the evidence of yesterday’s seven lengths romp. Generalissimo ($11) was second with a neck to Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist ($31).

“He was really able to put that race away from the 600m to the 400m when he got the others off the bit and chasing,’’ Bott said.

“But we feel he still has plenty of improvement to come as he got lost a bit late but he is a very talented, progressive horse.’’

Mister Songman began his career in Tasmania before owners John and Elizabeth Burke contacted Bott asking if they would take over the training of their promising sprinter.

“This is the first horse we have had for the owners and we were very grateful to be given the chance to train him,’’ Bott continued.

“Obviously, he had great form in Tasmania and the owners thought he could eventually be good enough to chase the excellent prizemoney here and maybe get to the carnivals on Sydney and Melbourne.

“Mister Songman is still very raw, this is his first preparation for us and we are still learning a lot about him but he obviously has a lot of ability.

“We will continue to try and place him correctly through the grades. He is a very exciting horse.’’