The late scratching of the odds-on favourite Athanatos paved the way for the 3-year-old Alabama Express gelding Kalkallo to make a winning debut in Wednesday's Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown-Lakeside.
The doctor ruled Daniel Stackhouse was unfit to ride by after receiving a smack in the mouth from Athanatos.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Ciaron Maher, Kalkallo settled outside the leader Brullen.
Craig Newitt set Brullen to an all-out drive before the home turn and stole a break on Kalkallo. When balanced up, the son of Alabama Express quickly gathered in Brullen (Holler) to win by two and a quarter lengths, with Bon Fete (Hellbent) two lengths back in third.
A $160,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Kalkallo is a half-brother to the stable's talented, lightly raced Zoustar gelding Dark Halo, who has earned the ire of stewards more than once for his barrier manners.
"The group was put together when they stopped at the Kalkallo pub when returning from a stud tour," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
"It's fantastic to get a win the first time out for a son of Alabama Express in Rupert Legh's colours.
"We liked his (half) brother Dark Halo, whom we trained. He has always shown good ability, although the 1300m was the query. He has more scope than Dark Halo, and he will sharpen up with a bit more racing, and we will look at bigger things in the future."
Bred by Yulong, Kalkallo is the second winner from as many to race for the 5-time winning Written Tycoon mare Written Era, who was third in the Group III MRC WW Cockram Stakes.
Purchased by Yulong for $775,000 from the Bell View Park Stud draft at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale, Written Era hails from the family of My Brilliant Star, Shot Of Thunder, French Emotion, Lachlan River, and Sudurka.
Written Era's Tagaloa filly was a $28,000 purchase for E Yeung at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Written Era foaled a Tagaloa colt last spring.
Few young stallions can boast a better strike rate than Alabama Express. Shortly before Kalkallo's winning debut, Alabama Express' Group II Matamata Breeders Stakes runner-up Alabama Lass cruised to a three-and-a-half length win at Taupo at her 3-year-old bow.
The son of Redoute's Choice stands for $55,000 at Yulong Stud this spring.
