One of Victoria's most underrated and successful hoops Luke Currie was meant to ride the mare but he had to be replaced after being dislodged shortly after the preceding race had been run. Baster was chosen by connections to replace Currie.

Aldarch, a daughter of the local siring star Archway, sat handy to the leaders throughout the race before hitting the front at the top of the straight.

Despite challenges being thrown out by a few rivals Aldarch was able to repond in fine style and draw clear to win by over a length.

The four-year-old mare was having just her second run back since having bone chips removed.

"She's a very genuine mare," Cindy Alderson who was deputising for her brother and trainer Steven said today. "Her form is really first class on tracks like this."

"Her form since her operation to remove bone chips is first class," she added.

The win also gave Melbourne based syndicators Slade Bloodstock their first metropolitan winner with a member of their first team.

"It's great to finally crack one in town," Rob Slade said after the race. "She's been a very good mare and her first up run was excellent the other day."

"We've got a lot of nice young stock, so hopefully this is the start of things," Slade added.

Alderson said the mare's ideal distance range was "not totally sorted out."

"She might handle a bit more distance than the 1500 metres we put her up to last time, but we're not totally sure," Alderson added. "She should be able to handle a mile without many problems."

Aldarch, who's from the True Version mare Estuary Lass, now has improved her record to four wins and three placings from just ten starts. Her prizemoney has now increased to $46,400. The mare has now finished in the first three placings at her past four runs at Morning, Ballarat, Sandown and now Caulfield.

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