First-season sire, Alabama Express, has been the talk of Australia’s young sires this season, kicking major goals from his first racing crop.
From just five runners as of November 28, Alabama Express has produced three winners, including Group 3 Ottawa Stakes winner Karavas and $1 million Inglis Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express. These results have seen the young sire rocket up to the top of the Australian first-season sire table.
Trained by Michael Moroney, Alabama Express was a two-year-old debut winner in March of 2019 before going on to claim the Listed Gothic Stakes and Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at three.
Harry King said that the Alabama Express progeny will only improve into their two-year-old season and even as three-year-olds.
“We are obviously really happy with how he has started his stallion career,” King said.
“We supported him quite heavily in his first year, and he stamped them all with quality, and I think that we are beginning to see that quality shine now.
“He did win on debut at two, but we saw the best of him in a 1400-metre WFA race at Caulfield.
“On the back of these winners, we have seen him get a lot more outside support.”
Not only has Alabama Express been making headlines, but champion stallion Written Tycoon continues to kick goals, siring Listed Challenge Stakes winner Velocious in New Zealand.
The two-year-old owned by Go Racing now cements herself as a live chance in the Karaka Million 2YO for leading trainer Stephen Marsh.
“She is now the leading horse on the Karaka Million 2YO order of entry. I can certainly see her putting her hand up on the first race night at Ellerslie,” King said.
“All the sires are just going really well.”
Not only are the team in green firing on all cylinders in the stallion ranks, but they are looking to make the most of a strong draft of 43 horses, including the first crop of Written Tycoon bred by Mr. Zhang.
Along with Written Tycoon’s, the first yearlings by Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa will be offered. The progeny of the Japanese-bred stallion sold for up to $110,000 at this year’s weanling sales and are expected to make a big impact this season.
“We are focused on the selling aspect at Magic Millions, and we are proud of the draft that we are taking,” King said.
“Buyers will see horses by Written Tycoon out of mares such as In Her Time, and we have 12 yearlings by this stallion that will go through the ring.
“We are taking nine Tagaloa’s up there, including a really nice type out of the dual Group-winning and Group 1-placed mare Gregers. No doubt this colt will be turning heads.”
This article was originally written by Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.
