While Alizee faced just four rivals, the danger was always going to be that the short-priced favourite was not going to get the pace to suit her over 1200m first-up and it evolved exactly that way.
Jockey Hugh Bowman was forced to make a searching run around the field at the 600m and sweep past the early leader Dissolute (New Approach {Ire}). She surged clear in the straight but was left a sitting shot for 2017 Missile S. winner Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible), who looked destined to sweep past her at the 50m mark only for the Godolphin mare to kick back and win. by 0.2l.
Grand campaigner Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}) kicked off his campaign for third, while Dissolute's performance exceeded expectations in finishing fourth.
Cummings said Alizee's performance could not be underestimated, given the way the race had panned out.
"She's an outstanding horse and we are lucky enough to have her in the barn. It's wonderful to see her get up and win a weight-for-age Group 2 first-up," he said.
"She seemed to do it the hard way, he took off very early on her, and if there was a way she was going to get beaten it was going to be by an impatient jockey."
"She seemed to do it the hard way, he took off very early on her, and if there was a way she was going to get beaten it was going to be by an impatient jockey." - James Cummings
"It was good to see her hold on, and there was a good margin back to third which would suggest it rated pretty well, even though the second horse came at her late."
Bowman admitted it wasn't the prettiest ride, but that circumstances left him little option but to get her into the race early.
"The last thing I want to do was to be going right around the field early in the race and hitting the front at the 400m, but I was given no choice and I tried to help her through it as best I could," he said.
"She responded as I knew she would and she felt the pinch late. But that was a great return and I think when she gets in a race with more pressure, you will see the best of her there."
Bowman admitted it wasn't the prettiest ride, but circumstances left him with little option
Bowman has ridden the mare in five of her past seven starts, including her win in the G1 Futurity S. earlier this campaign, so has a good feel for where she is at in her preparation.
He feels she will come on greatly for the run in the Missile S. with possible targets like The Everest on her radar later this campaign.
"You can tell by looking at her, she’s still got her winter coat. I’d say there is plenty of improvement but in saying that, she'd had two trials and she was forward enough to run a pretty good race here today and that's exactly what she did," he said.
"You can tell by looking at her, she’s still got her winter coat. I’d say there is plenty of improvement but in saying that, she'd had two trials and she was forward enough to run a pretty good race here today and that's exactly what she did." - Hugh Bowman
Cummings spaced her runs early last campaign, going from the Listed Christmas Classic, five weeks to her win in the G2 Expressway S.
He intends on doing a similar thing this time around as he looks to have her at her peak in the spring.
"I'm just really pleased with her that she's come back in best form," he said.
"She's built like she could be running out for the SJC First 15 this afternoon at the No.1 oval rather than saddling her up as the favourite in the Missile, but it is good to see her win as favourite first-up now I can give her a few weeks between runs, I think she is in for a big preparation."
It marked an eighth stakes success for Alizee, whose Group 1 victories have come in the Flight S., the Queen Of The Turf and the Futurity S.
