Alabama Express
Redoute’s Choice x Lago Ovation, by Encosta De Lago201616hh
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.
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
TREASURETHE MOMENT (21f, Street Cry, Invincible Spirit). 5 wins from 1312m to 2500m, A$1,048,150, 1st VRC VRC Oaks, Gr.1, VRC Wakeful S., Gr.2, MRC Sportsbet H., MRC Ive H., 2nd MRC Evergreen Turf H.
ALABAMA LASS (21f, Commands, Viscount). 4 wins from 1100m to 1400m, A$307,425, 1st Auckland TR Soliloquy S., Gr.2, Hawkes Bay Gold Trail S., Gr.3, Matamata RC C W Cole Racing 2YO S., 2nd CJC New Zealand One Thousand Guineas, Gr.1, Matamata RC Matamata Breeders S., Gr.2
DISCRETION RULES (21g, Zoustar, Royal Academy). Winner at 1200m, A$66,168, 1st CJC Champagne S., L, 2nd CJC Welcome S., L, CJC Pearl Series 2YO S., 3rd Otago RC Dakota Boutique 2YO S.
Karavas (21f, Pierro, Danehill). 2 wins from 900m to 1200m, A$179,625, 1st SAJC Rebel Raider Series Final, 2nd SAJC David Coles AM S., Gr.3, SAJC Dequetteville S., L, Murray Bridge RC Andrew Mills H., 4th SAJC Breeders’ S., Gr.3
Shangri la Express (21g, Lonhro, Rock of Gibraltar). 2 wins from 1000m to 1100m, A$738,825, 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$478,200, 1st SCTC OGE Group Architects 2YO H., 2nd BRC BJ McLachlan S., Gr.3
Express Yo’self (21f, Street Cry, At Talaq). Winner at 1107m, A$99,025, 2nd MRC Ive 2YO H., 3rd MRC Merson Cooper S., L
Glasgow Lass (21f, Fusaichi Pegasus, Tristino). 2 wins from 1100m to 1200m, A$87,680, 1st WATC Magic Millions 2YO P., WATC Quayclean P.
Alabama State (21c, Street Cry, Fasliyev). 3 wins from 1100m to 1400m, A$170,800, 1st ATC Midway H., 2nd ATC Midway H., 4th Newcastle JC Spring S., Gr.3
Brandjam (21g, Turffontein, Fastnet Rock). Winner at 1200m, A$58,490, 1st MVRC Ladbrokes Maiden P.
Strideaway (22f, Written Tycoon, Good Journey). Winner at 1000m, A$61,840, 1st WATC St Patrick’s Day 2YO P., 2nd WATC Magic Millions 2YO P.
Kalkallo (21g, Written Tycoon, Redding). Winner at 1300m, A$39,250, 1st MRC Sportsbet Maiden P., 2nd MRC Ive H.
Karate Express (21g, High Chaparral, Encosta de Lago). Winner at 1000m, A$141,451, 1st HKJC Yan Chau Tong Griffin P., 2nd HKJC Purves Quaich Griffin P.
Harpalee (21f, Savabeel, Fuji Kiseki). 2 wins at 1000m, A$152,325, 2nd MRC Tile Importer H.
Accelar (21f, More Than Ready, Testa Rossa). Winner at 1000m, A$48,150, 2nd BRC Drinkwise 2YO H., Ipswich TC Barrier Reef Pools 2YO H.
Give Faith (21f, Denman, Danehill). Winner at 1009m, A$22,365
Waiting for Time (21g, Written Tycoon, Exceed and Excel). Winner at 1200m, A$21,750
Taino Rocket (21g, Myboycharlie, Stravinsky). Winner at 1000m, A$12,500
Cheaha (21g, Savabeel, O’Reilly). Winner at 1230m, A$13,066
Southern Crescent (21f, Pure Prize, Clever Trick). Winner at 1100m, A$23,250
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