News

VICTORIAN co-trainers Cindy Alderson and her father Colin Alderson celebrated their first winner in Tasmania when their filly Tio Rossa scored an emphatic win in the $80,000 Listed Strutt Stakes (2100m) at Tattersall's Park Elwick today.

With regular rider Craig Williams aboard, Tio Rossa produced a barnstorming finish to overpower her rivals close to home to score from Tasmanian filly Feerique and the Patrick Payne-trained Danaupair Starlet.

It was an impressive win and one that co-trainer Cindy Alderson said was almost a homecoming victory.

"Dad (Colin) was born in Tassie on the North-West Coast so we have always hoped to one day win a decent race here and this filly has enabled us to fulfil that goal," Cindy Alderson said.

Tio Rossa was on trial at the distance with the view of looking forward to the $150,000 Tasmanian Oaks in a fortnight.

But Alderson said she was more inclined to look at the $200,000 Myer Classic at MooneeValley where Williams said she is a lengths-better proposition.

"The alternative is to stay at home for the Myer Classic (1600 metres) at Moonee Valley where she goes very well,'' Alderson said.

"We'll have a think about both options but we'll have a better idea after we see how she pulls up.''

Jockey Craig Williams indicated that he preferred the MooneeValley option.

"We have to be conscious of the fact that she's only a pony and we don't want to kill her,'' Alderson said.

"`For that reason she's been only sparingly raced this preparation.''

However, Alderson said that another trip across Bass Strait wouldn't be a major problem.

"We flew her over last Wednesday and she handled the trip really well,'' the trainer said.

Alderson's family bred Tio Rossa and she is a half sister to The Tiger who contested yesterday's Hobart Cup and finished seventh after having no luck.