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Alabama Express Filly Harpalee Breaks Maiden in Style

Mark Smith - Monday March 11

Chalk up a fifth Australian winner and sixth overall for Alabama Express as the cleverly named Harpalee broke her maiden at start two in the Porter Plant Maiden Plate (1000m) at Ballarat on Monday.

Harpalee breaks her maiden in style (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, Harpalee stalked the pace set by Miss Mahjong. Striking the front at the 200m, Harpalee held Godolphin’s fast-finishing Frosted (USA) debutant Snack Bar by three-quarters of a length, with the Territories first-starter Miss Mahjong two and a quarter lengths back in third.

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Harpalee was solidly supported at her debut in the Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington in November, where she shared the lead before weakening to finish last of the seven runners behind the winner Karavas, another daughter of Alabama Express.

Consigned by Middlebrook Valley Lodge to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Harpalee was a $180,000 buy for Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsay Park Racing.

Bred

by Yulong, the daughter of Alabama Express is the second winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Savabeel mare Storytime, a 2-time winner and placed in the Group II AuRC Eight Carat Classic and Group III Eulogy Stakes.

Harpalee strikes a pose (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

A $575,000 purchase for Yulong when carrying the I Am Invincible colt Invincible Power at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, Storytime foaled a filly by Grunt last October and was covered by Alabama Express.

Alabama Express closes the $170,000 gap behind the leading first crop sire, Royal Meeting (IRE), with his fifth winner from ten runners.

Harpalee a $180,000 Inglis Classic yearling

The Yulong Stud-based son of Redoute’s Choice has a winner from his only runner in New Zealand,  Alabama Lass, who won by almost ten lengths on debut at Matamata before finishing second to the top-class Written Tycoon filly Captured By Love in the Group II Matamata Breeders Stakes.

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Race Result - Porter Plant Mdn Plate 1000m

Ballarat Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.92
1
Harpalee
- 2f Alabama Express (AUS) x Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
2
0.8
Snack Bar
- 2c Frosted (USA) x Estaminet (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Mott 58
3
3.5
Miss Mahjong
- 2f Territories (IRE) x Chanteresse (AUS) (Albrecht (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: E J Walsh 56
4
4.8
Immortal Joy
- 2f I Am Immortal (AUS) x Joyano (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Michel 56
5
5
Zousinger
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Soul Mama (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: J Bowditch 56
6
5.5
Tough Guy
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Secret Success (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: W Egan 58
7
6
Whitson
- 2c Cosmic Force (AUS) x Sensible Lady (USA) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Jarrod Fry 58
8
6.3
In Your Words
- 2f Blue Point (IRE) x Mirette (AUS) (Unencumbered (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Tayla Childs 54
9
7.5
Dubliners
- 2c Microphone (AUS) x Celts (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Ben Allen 58
10
7.7
Chosen Legend
- 2f Extreme Choice (AUS) x Lady No More (AUS) (Onemorenomore (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 56
11
8.2
Caporiko
- 2g Capitalist (AUS) x Nariko (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Lauren Burke 55
12
9.2
Treasureflight
- 2g Pierata (AUS) x She's A Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Ms L J Meech 58
13
10.5
Santolini
- 2f Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Alamein (AUS) (Time Thief (AUS))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: J Noonan 56
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