Alabama Express
Redoute’s Choice x Lago Ovation, by Encosta De Lago201616hh
FEE: $55,000
WFA Gr. 1 Winner and first-crop sire sensation
Following exceptional results from his debut crop at the yearling sales in 2023 and a blistering start with his first two-year-olds, WFA Gr.1 winner Alabama Express has quickly become the talking horse among the Australian sire ranks.
Off the mark early doors with his two-year-old daughter Karavas, charging to victory in the Moorundi Classic at Murray Bridge, he followed this up just two weeks later when his imposing son Shangri La Express produced a dominant victory in the Kirkham Plate at Royal Randwick prior to a devastating win in the Inglis Golden Gift.
Karavas stepped out again in dominating fashion to secure victory in the Gr.3 Ottawa S. on Oaks day, handing Alabama Express his first-crop Stakes winner.
With six first-crop Stakes performers to date, the son of Australian phenomenon Redoute’s Choice strikes at an astounding 40% Stakes horses to runners and holds the esteemed title as the only Australian first-crop sire to reach $1 million in progeny earnings pre-Christmas.
Alabama Express already made a splash early in 2023 finishing the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as the leading first-season sire by average, including a top price of $400,000 for the colt purchased by his own buyer Paul Moroney, in partnership with Ballymore Stables Australia and Catheryne Bruggeman.
After viewing the first crop of consistent quality types thrown by Alabama Express, Moroney declared the young sire as “a serious stallion to follow”.
The following year, at Magic Millions in January 2024, Alabama Express’ progeny continued to demand buyers’ attention, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott going to $400,000 to secure a colt out of Devine Lass from the Yulong draft.
Trained by Mike Moroney, Alabama Express faced some of the best horses in the country under a tough run at Caulfield when he took out the WFA Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes; a race also won by his exceptional sire.
“He had the toughest run in the race and still won,” said trainer Mike Moroney. “When I saw he couldn’t get in, I thought it was game over, but it just shows you how good this horse is.”
“His father (Redoute’s Choice) won this race and he’s more like dad than any other horse I’ve seen.”
“If you can replicate even half of what his dad has done, he’s going to be a successful sire.”
Alabama Express was bred by GSA Bloodstock and purchased at the Inglis Easter Sale from Arrowfield Stud for $280,000.
“He was just a cracking athlete and he had a lot of quality, with a great mind,” commented Paul Moroney who purchased the colt as a yearling. “He had a lot of his dad, Redoute’s Choice, about him. He was a great moving horse and to me, he was a standout on class.”
“He’s obviously taken that quality of his looks across to the racetrack and he’s proven himself as a high-quality racehorse. He’s got all the hallmarks of making a great stallion – he’s a Gr.1 winner, he’s athletic, he’s a standout on type and he’s got a lot of his dad about him.”
Performance
Facts
- Unbeaten two-year-old and Gr.1-winning three-year-old by Redoute’s Choice
- Became the first three-year-old since All Too Hard to win the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes, and the only son of Redoute's Choice to win a WFA at three
- Out of an Encosta de Lago mare, the same cross as exceptional sire Beneteau, and closely related to star Gr.1 sprinter Giga Kick
- First-crop yearlings sold up to $400,000 with buyers including Maher & Eustace, Annabel Neasham, Waterhouse & Bott
- The only first-season sire ever to amass over $1 million in progeny earnings pre-Christmas
Race record
Age | Runs | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | $12,650 |
| 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | – | $542,100 |
| Totals | 8 | 4 | 1 | – | $554,750 |
at 2
Sale TC Vale Calvin Logan Maiden 2YO P. (1112m)
at 3
MRC CF Orr S., Gr.1 (1400m)
MRC Gothic S., Listed (1400m)
VRC Donate to Salvation Army H. (1100m)
Top priced yearlings
Media
All aboard the Alabama Express
on the track to sire success: Introducing Alabama Express and his first crop of yearlings
Alabama Express introduces his first crop of weanlings to the 2022 weanling sales
2020 C.F. Orr stakes
2020 Neds C.F. Orr stakes won by Alabama Express
Pedigree
Alabama Express’ Leading Progeny
KARAVAS (21f, Pierro, Danehill). 2 wins from 900m to 1000m, A$170,325, 1st VRC Ottawa S., Gr.3, 2nd SAJC Dequetteville S., L
Shangri la Express (21c, Lonhro, Rock of Gibraltar). 2 wins from 1000m to 1100m, A$729,950, 1st ATC Golden Gift, ATC James Squire Kirkham 2YO P., 2nd ATC Pierro 2YO P., 3rd ATC Todman S., Gr.2
Poster Girl (21f, Dubawi, Katahaula County). Winner at 1000m, A$475,700, 1st SCTC OGE Group Architects 2YO H., 2nd BRC BJ McLachlan S., Gr.3
Alabama Lass (21f, Commands, Viscount). Winner at 1100m, A$39,470, 1st Matamata RC C W Cole Racing 2YO S., 2nd Matamata RC Matamata Breeders S., Gr.2
Discretion Rules (21g, Zoustar, Royal Academy). Placed, A$23,791, 2nd CJC Welcome S., L, CJC Pearl Series 2YO S., 3rd Otago RC Dakota Boutique 2YO S.
Express Yo’self (21f, Street Cry, At Talaq). Placed, A$53,750, 2nd MRC Ive 2YO H., 3rd MRC Merson Cooper S., L
Glasgow Lass (21f, Fusaichi Pegasus, Tristino). Winner at 1100m, A$43,840, 1st WATC Magic Millions 2YO P.
Alabama State (21c, Street Cry, Fasliyev). Winner at 1100m, A$32,550
Harpalee (21f, Savabeel, Fuji Kiseki). Winner at 1000m, A$50,525
Accelar (21f, More Than Ready, Testa Rossa). Placed, A$21,900, 2nd BRC Drinkwise 2YO H.
This One Time (21f, Singspiel, Seattle Slew). Placed
News
