Smart mare rises to occasion

Progressive Almanzor mare Alma Rise added to her record at Moe with a determined second-up performance.The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained four-year-old was runner-at at Sandown over 1800 metres when opening her spring campaign and the rise to a middle distance proved ideal for the promising stayer.It was her second win from five starts and her three runner-up finishes also includes a second in last season’s Listed VRC St Leger.“She has been very consistent and has always put in a very good performance,” stable representative Will Holmes said.“She has still got a bit of maturing to do so she can go a lot further.”Alma Rise settled three back off the fence before improving wide across the top and she finished stoutly under Luke Nolen to get in the deciding stride in a driving finish.She is raced by her breeder Ed Calvert and is a daughter of the Bertolini mare Fashion Black, who was successful on six occasions. Fashion Black is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner and sire Xtravagant whose brother He’s Remarkable was a Group 3 winner and placed at the elite level.