Alabama Lass dominates proceedings in Foxbridge Plate
New Zealand’s sprint Queen Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) stepped out for her first appearance of the season on Saturday and was quickly back in the winning groove as she eased clear in the run home to take out the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) a Te Rapa.
The Ken and Ben Kelso-prepared daughter of Alabama Express was a warm favourite to make a winning start to her spring campaign after she had never left second gear when winning an open class trial over 1050m at the track a fortnight ago.
Rider Michael McNab was entrusted with the job in the saddle this time and he made it look easy as he allowed his mount to take over in front after 200m and set up terms to suit herself.
Former Australian galloper Media World (Written Tycoon) had run second to Alabama Lass in the Te Rapa trial and he sat outside her this time after working across from a wide draw and was the first to throw out a challenge entering the home straight.
McNab hardly moved a muscle as he clicked Alabama Lass up at the 150m and she put a length on a brave Media World, who chased valiantly, but had to settle for second as the flying five-year-old mare eased to the line to win in a slick 1.10.31 seconds for the journey.
Last year’s winner Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) made good ground in the run home to finish close up in third alongside Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), who went a mighty race after being caught three-wide for much of the contest.
Ken Kelso had been expecting good things from his charge upon her return after she experienced a difficult campaign in Melbourne in the spring last season.
“She has really grown up and I just don’t know what happened in Melbourne after she went so well in the Moir (Gr.1, 1000m) there first up,” Kelso said.
“She is a different horse after her spell and is back to her old self.
“I left things up to Michael, although I said if something wanted to go mad to just take a sit. He seems to get on well with her and this is a huge result.
“We will go on to the Proisir Plate (Gr.1, 1400m), whether or not she will get 1400m but she has won the Soliloquy (Gr.3, 1400m) there (Ellerslie), so that is our next target as there isn’t a lot around for these sprinting mares at this time of the year.
“A big shout out to Bev at home, she couldn’t make it here, but I’m sure she will be chuffed.”
McNab was quick to point out the ease of the victory.
“She got there (front) easily and switched off well before she found a good kick,” he said.
“She has been going well, working well and trialled well, although I think she will take good improvement from this.
“I hadn’t gone for her (in the straight), so I thought I had them covered. She is close to a Group One win so I hope she can get it in this prep.”
Kelso bought Alabama Lass for A$120,000 as a yearling in Melbourne in 2023 for her large group of owners, and she has now repaid them to the tune of more than $1.2 million in prize money from her seven career wins from just 14 starts. - Kevin Robertson
Winner: Alabama Lass (AUS) 2021
Owners: Marie Dunn, Jo & Murray Dunn, Sue & Tony Egan ONZM, A J Moore & Eddie Tynan
Trainer: Ken & Bev Kelso / Matamata
Breeding: by Alabama Express (AUS) out of Tabliope (AUS) by Commands (AUS)
Breeder: Rifa Mustang Pty Ltd
Prima Bella lands Toy Show Quality
In-form mare Prima Bella (NZ) (Per Incanto) added valuable black-type to her record with a determined victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy allowed the New Zealand-bred daughter of Per Incanto to stride forward and settle outside leader Gatwick (Ole Kirk), where she travelled comfortably into the home straight.
Prima Bella found plenty under pressure, edging out Stardom (Zoustar) by a long head in a winning time of 1:02.94. Race favourite Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) finished another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Prepared by Matthew Smith, Prima Bella was well placed under the quality handicap conditions with 53kg. Saturday’s triumph was her fourth win from six starts during an outstanding preparation.
“Super ride,” Smith said. “Kerrin took the initiative and took luck out of it.
“She’s a fit horse. That was the way to ride her and just hope they don’t run past you late. That was the way to do it.”
Smith admitted the step up to 1100m presented a question mark, but Prima Bella’s strength through the line in her previous 1000m appearance encouraged connections to give her the opportunity.
“I wasn’t sure, but she was very strong here the other day over 1000m, so we thought we’ve just got to give it a shot and see how we go,” he said.
“Once he got an easy couple of furlongs early, I thought we’d be a chance to run it out.”
The Group Three success rewarded the patience shown by the mare’s connections, having previously spent a year away from racing.
“There you go,” Smith said. “They’ve been very patient, the owners. She had a year off at one stage, so they’ve been rewarded. It has been fantastic.”
McEvoy approached the race without making any special concessions for the extra distance and allowed Prima Bella to settle into her natural rhythm.
“When I asked Matt, he said, ‘Look, we’re going to find out about the trip,’ so I didn’t ride her any differently,” McEvoy said.
“Matt said to go out there with a plan to try to have her in a normal position, and she got into a nice rhythm.
“I thought we had it nice and cosy. The horse on the outside came in quite quickly as we entered the straight and got half a head or a head up.
“I was yet to ask her for a full effort, and when I did, she gave a bit more. She’s a deserving winner because Matt’s had her in great form, and she’s holding her form too.”
Bred by Little Avondale Stud, Prima Bella is by the operation’s outstanding stallion Per Incanto and is out of Brah Spring (NZ), a Darci Brahma mare who won seven races.
Her pedigree also features Australian Group One performers Evaporate (NZ) Per Incanto) and Belluci (NZ) (Per Incanto) Babe, both by Per Incanto.
Prima Bella races in the colours of a syndicate headed by Francis and Christine Cook. She was purchased for A$320,000 at the Sydney Classic Yearling Sale and has now won eight of her 15 starts, earning A$480,825 in prize money.
Her newly acquired Group Three-winning status has also significantly enhanced her future value as a broodmare. - NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Prima Bella (NZ) 2020
Owners: Mrs M A Smith, Mystery Downs, Mrs C M Cook, Ms K E Harding, Ms S J Nuttall, Mr J R Rourke, Ms S A Sproats, Mr G J P Van Ameyden
Trainer: Matthew Smith (Warwick Farm)
Breeding: by Per Incanto (USA) out of Brah Spring (NZ) by Darci Brahma (NZ)
Breeder: Little Avondale Trust
Foire De Trone digs deep in Randwick victory
Foire De Trone (NZ) (Almanzor) showed plenty of fortitude to win the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, rallying late to defeat favourite Le Troisir (NZ) (Proisir) and lead home a New Zealand-bred trifecta.
Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro) filled third place in the muddlingly run staying contest.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, Foire De Trone carried the colours of Yabby Dams principal Pat Driscoll and recorded the fifth victory of her career.
The daughter of Almanzor was having her sixth start of the campaign, but she could now be given the opportunity to work towards the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m), to be held at Randwick on October 3.
“We have been spacing her runs, but it is a long way to the Metrop,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
“We will see how she comes through today’s race. Her coat is still wintry, so there is improvement to come.”
Foire De Trone entered Saturday’s race following a victory on a heavy track at Sandown and once again demonstrated her stamina as she wore down Le Troisir.
Gerard-Dubord said jockey Ethan Brown’s decision to make an early move proved crucial.
“She does hit a flat spot, and Ethan was very mindful of that,” he said.
“That is why he got her moving a bit sooner rather than later, and I think that was the difference between winning and losing.”
Maher purchased Foire De Trone for A$120,000 from Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The five-year-old mare is out of the English-bred Zamindar mare City Fair. She takes her name from the Foire du Trône, one of France’s oldest and largest travelling fairs. - NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Foire de Trone (NZ) 2021
Owners: Mr P Driscoll, Mr G C Keys, Mrs T Plumb, Mr P M Plumb, The Special K's, Mrs Y Sopian, Mr F Ouw, Five Sisters Group
Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Warwick Farm)
Breeding: by Almanzor (FR) out of City Fair (GB) by Zamindar (USA)
Breeder: Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay
NZ Racing Desk
Kevin Robertson
Joshua Smith
