G1 Melbourne Goal for Alabama Lass

Media Release - Saturday August 9

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.

He and wife Bev lined up Alabama Lass and Legarto in the 1050m open class trial with rider Lynsey Satherley never letting Alabama Lass out of second gear as she led all the way to defeat Ardalio and Sacred Satono, while stayer Sharp N Smart shaded Legarto for fourth as they made up good ground in the closing stages.

alabama Lass was a SW at Flemington on last season - image Grant Courtney

Kelso has his sights set on a Melbourne raid for Alabama Lass who closed her three-year-old year in late March with a victory in the Listed Moomba Plate (1100m) at Flemington in the hands of Craig Williams.

He is delighted with how the now four-year-old mare has come back a bigger and better specimen for the new season.

“That was a very nice trial as she has really grown and thickened up during the break and looks fantastic,” Kelso said.

“I got Lynsey to ride her today as she had ridden her in a trial before the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) last year so had some knowledge of her. She came back in and couldn’t believe how much she had developed.

“She (Alabama Lass) did exactly what we wanted and I think we will follow Plan A which is to take her to Melbourne to tackle the Moir Stakes (Gr.1, 1000m) at The Valley first up on 6 September.

“There is a bit of water to go under the bridge but at this stage it is likely Craig Williams will take the ride on her again.

Advertisement

“We are thinking if she goes well we might stay on and tackle the Manikato (Gr.1, 1200m) three weeks later, but that is only a thought at this stage.”

Kelso was also satisfied with Legarto who settled near last for rider Vinnie Colgan and made up good ground in the final 400m.

“Legarto needed the run and she will have an exhibition gallop, or possibly a trial, before we take her to Ellerslie for the Proisir Plate (Gr.1, 1400m) on the 6th of September,” he said.

“The plan with her is to tackle the three races of the Spring Triple Crown which has two legs at Ellerslie this year. The money is very good and she will appreciate stepping up in distance over the series.

“Some might say she doesn’t go as well at Ellerslie as she has only won one of her four starts there, but the other three races saw her run second to Desert Lightning in the Aotearoa Classic, second to El Vencedor in the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m) along with finishing third in the New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m).

“There are plenty who would be well satisfied with a record like that.”

With renovations making the Hastings track unavailable to host the traditional Spring Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Prosier Plate, Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) will be held at Ellerslie on 6 September, Te Rapa on 27 September and Ellerslie on 18 October, respectively. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Raider Alabama Lass Wins Listed World Pool Classic Sprint
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.
Alabama Lass Melbourne-bound After King’s G3 Plate Romp
Ken and Bev Kelso bought Alabama Lass in Melbourne as a yearling two years ago, and a stunning performance in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie has them plotting a return.
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Alabama Lass Primed for G1 Moir
Tackling Group Ones on either side of the Tasman is nothing new for Ken and Bev Kelso, and they will do exactly that this weekend.
Deserving Stakes Success For Splash Back (Fr)
Unlucky not to already has a stakes victory on her resume, the Grahame Begg trained French-bred Le Havre mare Splash Back (Fr) broke through on Friday night at Moonee Valley, winning the $300,000 Group 2 MVRC Stock Stakes (1500m).
Pride of Jenni Too Good for Treasurethe Moment in G2 Feehan
Pride of Jenni might be an eight year-old mare that is drawing ever closer to the end of her glorious career, but there was a sparkle in her eye before the Group II MVRC Feehan Stakes (1600m) and it was the Jenni of old that ran her rivals ragged at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Alabama Lass Returns to Victoria
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.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Expensive I Am Invincible Mare Wins G1 Manikato
The highest priced filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when selling for $1.55million, I Am Invincible filly Charm Stone has been a star from day one and is now a two time Group I winner after landing her second victory at the top level with a dominant win in the $2million MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.