With seconds at Eagle Farm and Ipswich (lost on protest) and a commendable fifth in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes, Accelar broke through for a deserved success in the Landsborough Pub Maiden Plate (1000m) at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and rang up winner number seven for Alabama Express in Australia and ninth overall.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Toby Edmonds, Accelar jumped in front and never looked back to defeat the Territories (IRE) filly Tessatori by a half-length with the Merchant Navy debutant Miss Palladium three and three-quarter lengths back in third.
A $220,000 purchase for Lucky Clover Thoroughbreds from the Yulong draft in Book 2 of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Accelar is the second winner from as many to race for the 4-time winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Prontezza.
A $550,000 yearling Prontezza was purchased by Yulong for $370,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
A half-sister to Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes, Group II Percy Sykes Stakes and Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes winner and Group 1 Manakato third Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) and multiple stakes-placed Farooq (Frankel), Prontezza is a daughter of the Group 1 SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes winner Rostova (Testa Rossa).
Prontezza foaled a Written Tycoon filly last spring and missed to Alabama Express.
Alabama Express has two winners from as many runners in New Zealand, including the stakes-winner Discretion Rules
The race for leading first crop sire for individual winners is heating up. Too Darn Hot (GB) leads with nine, ahead of Tassort (8), Alabama Express (7), Brutal (7), and Zousain (7).
Alabama Express stands for $55,000 at Yulong Stud in the coming season.
