Alabama Express Gelding Kalkallo Makes Winning Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday August 21

The late scratching of the odds-on favourite Athanatos paved the way for the 3-year-old Alabama Express gelding Kalkallo to make a winning debut in Wednesday's Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown-Lakeside.

Kalkallo gets the job done on debut (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

The doctor ruled Daniel Stackhouse was unfit to ride by after receiving a smack in the mouth from Athanatos.

Ridden by Mark Zahra for Ciaron Maher, Kalkallo settled outside the leader Brullen.

Craig Newitt set Brullen to an all-out drive before the home turn and stole a break on Kalkallo. When balanced up, the son of Alabama Express quickly gathered in Brullen (Holler) to win by two and a quarter lengths, with Bon Fete (Hellbent) two lengths back in third.

A $160,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Kalkallo is a half-brother to the stable's talented, lightly raced Zoustar gelding Dark Halo, who has earned the ire of stewards more than once for his barrier manners.

"The group was put together when they stopped at the Kalkallo pub when returning from a stud tour," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

"It's fantastic to get a win the first time out for a son of Alabama Express in Rupert Legh's colours.

Advertisement

"We liked his (half) brother Dark Halo, whom we trained. He has always shown good ability, although the 1300m was the query. He has more scope than Dark Halo, and he will sharpen up with a bit more racing, and we will look at bigger things in the future."

Happy days (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Bred by Yulong, Kalkallo is the second winner from as many to race for the 5-time winning Written Tycoon mare Written Era, who was third in the Group III MRC WW Cockram Stakes.

Purchased by Yulong for $775,000 from the Bell View Park Stud draft at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale, Written Era hails from the family of My Brilliant Star, Shot Of Thunder, French Emotion, Lachlan River, and Sudurka.

Kalkallo a $160,000 Magic Millions yearling

Written Era's Tagaloa filly was a $28,000 purchase for E Yeung at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Written Era foaled a Tagaloa colt last spring.

Few young stallions can boast a better strike rate than Alabama Express. Shortly before Kalkallo's winning debut, Alabama Express' Group II Matamata Breeders Stakes runner-up Alabama Lass cruised to a three-and-a-half length win at Taupo at her 3-year-old bow.

The son of Redoute's Choice stands for $55,000 at Yulong Stud this spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Mdn Plate 1300m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:19.03
1
Kalkallo
- 3g Alabama Express (AUS) x Written Era (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 58
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $160,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock
2
2.3
Brullen
- 3g Holler (AUS) x Brightful (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Shawn Mathrick Rdr: C Newitt 58
3
4.3
Bon Fete
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Resource (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Zac Spain 56
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $130,000
Seller: Esker Lodge Australia, Beremboke
Buyer: Jason Warren Racing Stables Pty Ltd
4
4.3
Keeneland
- 3g Almanzor (FR) x Savabeel Star (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: John Allen 58
5
6.8
Fitzroy Street
- 3f Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Cool Tart (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
More Reading...
New Classic Prospect and New Aussie 2YO Winner for Wootton Bassett
The Group III JRA Derby Trial (2000m) at Baden Baden in Germany overnight produced a new stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett (GB) with lightly raced colt Juwelier staking a claim for classic success.
Cool Aza Beel Strikes Again
Proven Te Akau Racing filly Cool Aza Rene put her quality on display when prevailing in a competitive Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.
Lightly Raced Stayer Wins Sandown Cup
The $175,000 Listed MRC Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday featured some battle hardened  old stayers, but it was the young kind on the block that got the prize with four year-old Tavistock gelding Diwali scoring his first stakes win.
The Secret is Out!
He has big shoes to fill as a half-brother to a $12million earner, but there is no secret about his ability! 
Magic Justify x Fastnet Rock Cross Strikes in Hong Kong
With Justify’s very best son City of Troy (USA) shuttling to Coolmore Australia this spring it’s worth remembering the power of the Justify x Fastnet Rock nick and we saw it to the fore at Sha Tin on Saturday when Australian bred four year-old Pray for Mir took out the Group III The Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Research on Equliume Light Mask
Don’t take our word for granted ….. Research on the Equilume Light mask for the pregnant mare and foal
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 1
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Bred Trifecta in G3 Sha Tin Vase
Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).
Familiar Faces Win $100,000 Jumps Features at Sandown
Jumps racing took centre stage at Sandown on Sunday with some familiar colours and faces winning both the $100,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and the $100,000 Australian Hurdle (3900m).