Alabama Express - New Winner

Group One performer Meritable quenched his thirst after a four year winning drought when victorious in the VS Equine Dannevirke (1200m) at Woodville on Sunday.

Fourth in the Arc de Triomphe and a brilliant winner of the Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes at 2000m, there have been few classier winners of the Melbourne Cup than Gold Trip (Fr) and his very first foal has been born this spring.

Yulong based Alabama Express was expected to have G1 success on Saturday with his glamour filly Treasurethe Moment in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill, but with that meeting postponed due to the weather it was left to Alabama Lass to fly the flag.

He cost 2.4million guineas as a yearling and is one of the most eye-catching horses you would ever see, so of course it’s going to be a big story in global bloodstock news when he wins his first G1!

The second evening of the Arqana August Sale was highlighted by demand for Wootton Bassett , who is currently at Coolmore Australia, with the same format as the day before featuring strong demand with a total of 85% of the 72 yearlings offered during the evening selling for an excellent average of €246,475, generating a turnover of €15,035,000.

Two years after buying Alabama Lass from a Melbourne yearling sale, Matamata trainer Ken Kelso is retracing those steps to find out how the brilliant filly measures up across the Tasman.

Alabama Lass will be out to replicate the feats of stable predecessor Bounding when she heads to Ellerslie next week to tackle the $700,000 Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).

In a comparatively short space of time Yulong have become a global powerhouse in the thoroughbred industry and nowhere more than in Australia, so when they open the gates to their headquarters in Victoria you can expect a big crowd.

The second session of the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale on Sunday produced a sale ring battle between MV Magnier and Amo Racing over a colt by Woottton Bassett from High Celebrity with Coolmore winning out with a final bid of  €2.3million.

Trainer Ken Kelso was wearing a wide smile as he left Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday afternoon after witnessing his two stable stars provide him with suitable evidence they are both on target to kick off their Spring campaigns in fine fashion.