With Eurocanto (Per Incanto {USA}) scratched at the barrier gates, the field for the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (c&g) was reduced to six. Half-way down the straight, racing fans held their breath as High Alert (Street Boss {USA}) and Invicto (I Am Invincible) were tightened for space, forcing High Alert back, while eventual winner Craig Newitt-ridden Alibaba (Alabama Express) and second placed Milsons Point (Blue Point {IRE}) both stayed out of trouble down the centre of the track.
Invicto ran on well for third, while High Alert picked himself up to finish strongly in fourth. Ken and Kasey Keys-trained Alibaba is not nominated for the Gr.1 Blue Diamond, so his connections would have to pay the $55,000 supplementary fee to join the field. He placed in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes on debut.
“He has really settled down this prep,” Kasey Keys said.
“He wasn’t the easiest early on but he has been gaining confidence every day. We’ve always known that he has the motor but it has just been a matter of him putting it together.”
Alibaba is from the smallest crop by Alabama Express with 58 foals born in 2023, and becomes his fifth career Stakes winner. Alibaba is the second juvenile winner from Alabama Express’s third crop after Dashing Dixie (NZ) who won in New Zealand in mid-December.
Sales info: Sold by Yulong at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $115,000 to Ken Keys Racing. Yulong will present Alibaba’s half-brother by Lucky Vega (IRE) at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 52.
Click here to view Lot 52 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
Pedigree notes: Alibaba is a full brother to three-year-old filly Strideaway who placed in the R.Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic last season as well as winning twice at two. The pair are out of juvenile winner Rowsthorn (Written Tycoon) who is a three-quarter-sister to Gr.3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon).
Written for TTRAusNZ
