FEE: TBC
WFA Gr. 1 Winner Alabama Express
Following exceptional results from his debut crop at the yearling sales in 2023, WFA Gr.1 winner Alabama Express has quickly become the talking horse among the first-season sire ranks.
Off the mark early doors with his two-year-old daughter Karavas (ex All Of Me), 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 (ex Sent From Above) produced a dominant victory in the Kirkham Plate at Royal Randwick.
Karavas (ex All Of Me) 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.
The son of Redoute’s Choice finished 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 Alabama Express’ 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”.
At Magic Millions in January, 15 of his youngsters sold for an average of over $145,000 into the hands of leading stables such as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
With that sale headed by a $350,000 Yulong-bred filly out of Erato, the results continued at Karaka, where a colt from Elsdon Park sold for NZ$220,000, and into Inglis Classic Sale where Laurel Oak Bloodstock and Lindsay Park Racing teamed up on a striking filly for $180,000.
His sire Redoute’s Choice, is an Australian phenomenon, peerless in his achievements at stud and continues to build his legacy through exceptional sons and daughters.
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 prospect – 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
Pedigree
Alabama Express’ Leading Progeny
KARAVAS (21f, Pierro, Danehill). 2 wins from 900m to 1000m, A$170,325, 1st VRC Ottawa S., Gr.3
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
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.
Harpalee (21f, Savabeel, Fuji Kiseki). Winner at 1000m, A$50,525
Discretion Rules (21g, Zoustar, Royal Academy). Placed, A$10,264, 2nd CJC Pearl Series 2YO S., 3rd Otago RC Dakota Boutique 2YO S.
Accelar (21f, More Than Ready, Testa Rossa). Placed, A$21,900, 2nd BRC Drinkwise 2YO H.
This One Time (21f, Singspiel, Seattle Slew). Placed