Alverta and her groom Leah Gavranich.

Alverta faces another international race challenge on 9 July when she contests the Group 1 July Cup on the celebrated July Course at Newmarket. The July Cup is the fourth – and arguably most testing – leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Alverta has improved physically since her 40kg weight loss before running in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on 19 June. She will have to be in her very best form to compete against a field of world-class sprinters, including nine of the first 11 horses home in the Golden Jubilee.

Alverta has drawn barrier 14 with the speed advantageously drawn directly inside her: Kinsale King (barrier 13), Fleeting Spirit (12), Starspangledbanner (11) and Equiano (10). “Alverta has a good turn of foot if there is good speed in her races,” commented Paul Messara.

The July Cup is run over 1200 metres with an uphill run to the winning post. It is this gruelling finish which has caused the downfall of more than one Australian entry in the past decade. We are hoping Alverta’s ability to run out a strong 1400m will be to her advantage over the pure sprinting horses.

The July Cup will be televised live at 12.10am on Saturday morning on Sky Channel.

AM