Alabama Express was parading in the Hunter Valley for Yulong for the first time earlier today and in New Zealand his star daughter Alabama Lass kicked off her spring campaign with a big win.
New Zealand’s sprint Queen Alabama Lass stepped out for her first appearance of the season on Saturday and was quickly back in the winning groove as she eased clear in the run home to take out the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) a Te Rapa.
The Ken and Ben Kelso-prepared daughter of Alabama Express was a warm favourite to make a winning start to her spring campaign after she had never left second gear when winning an open class trial over 1050m at the track a fortnight ago.
Rider Michael McNab was entrusted with the job in the saddle this time and he made it look easy as he allowed his mount to take over in front after 200m and set up terms to suit herself.
Former Australian galloper Media World had run second to Alabama Lass in the Te Rapa trial and he sat outside her this time after working across from a wide draw and was the first to throw out a challenge entering the home straight.
McNab hardly moved a muscle as he clicked Alabama Lass up at the 150m and she put a length on a brave Media World, who chased valiantly, but had to settle for second as the flying five-year-old mare eased to the line to win in a slick 1.10.31 seconds for the journey.
Last year’s winner Sterling Express made good ground in the run home to finish close up in third alongside Affirmative Action, who went a mighty race after being caught three-wide for much of the contest.
Ken Kelso had been expecting good things from his charge upon her return after she experienced a difficult campaign in Melbourne in the spring last season.
“She has really grown up and I just don’t know what happened in Melbourne after she went so well in the Moir (Gr.1, 1000m) there first up,” Kelso said.
“She is a different horse after her spell and is back to her old self.
“I left things up to Michael, although I said if something wanted to go mad to just take a sit. He seems to get on well with her and this is a huge result.
“We will go on to the Proisir Plate (Gr.1, 1400m), whether or not she will get 1400m but she has won the Soliloquy (Gr.3, 1400m) there (Ellerslie), so that is our next target as there isn’t a lot around for these sprinting mares at this time of the year.
“A big shout out to Bev at home, she couldn’t make it here, but I’m sure she will be chuffed.”
McNab was quick to point out the ease of the victory.
“She got there (front) easily and switched off well before she found a good kick,” he said.
“She has been going well, working well and trialled well, although I think she will take good improvement from this.
“I hadn’t gone for her (in the straight), so I thought I had them covered. She is close to a Group One win so I hope she can get it in this prep.”
Kelso bought Alabama Lass for A$120,000 as a yearling at Inglis Premier from the Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds draft for her large group of owners and she has now repaid them to the tune of more than $1.2 million in prizemoney from her seven career wins from just 14 starts.
One of seven stakes-winners for Alabama Express, she is a half-sister to stakes-placed Bad 'n' Bouj and comes from an old Australian female family with her third dam Seika, winner of the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes.- LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
