Chalk up a fifth Australian winner and sixth overall for Alabama Express as the cleverly named Harpalee broke her maiden at start two in the Porter Plant Maiden Plate (1000m) at Ballarat on Monday.
Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, Harpalee stalked the pace set by Miss Mahjong. Striking the front at the 200m, Harpalee held Godolphin’s fast-finishing Frosted (USA) debutant Snack Bar by three-quarters of a length, with the Territories first-starter Miss Mahjong two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Harpalee was solidly supported at her debut in the Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington in November, where she shared the lead before weakening to finish last of the seven runners behind the winner Karavas, another daughter of Alabama Express.
Consigned by Middlebrook Valley Lodge to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Harpalee was a $180,000 buy for Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsay Park Racing.
Bred
by Yulong, the daughter of Alabama Express is the second winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Savabeel mare Storytime, a 2-time winner and placed in the Group II AuRC Eight Carat Classic and Group III Eulogy Stakes.
A $575,000 purchase for Yulong when carrying the I Am Invincible colt Invincible Power at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, Storytime foaled a filly by Grunt last October and was covered by Alabama Express.
Alabama Express closes the $170,000 gap behind the leading first crop sire, Royal Meeting (IRE), with his fifth winner from ten runners.
The Yulong Stud-based son of Redoute’s Choice has a winner from his only runner in New Zealand, Alabama Lass, who won by almost ten lengths on debut at Matamata before finishing second to the top-class Written Tycoon filly Captured By Love in the Group II Matamata Breeders Stakes.
