Alabama Lass has shown why she is regarded as a top-line sprinter in New Zealand after making the trip over to Australia for the first time to salute in the Listed HKJC Sprint Classic down the Flemington straight.
The Ken & Bev Kelso-trained filly has built a formidable record in her homeland, with five wins and three placings to her name from eight starts.
Craig Williams took the ride for her first Aussie start, and after jumping as a +140 favourite with Dabble, she didn’t let her followers down.
With all but one runner heading to the inside rail throughout the 1200m contest, Alabama Lass led the field ahead of Band Of Brothers (+8000) and Rich Dottie (+1200), with Bridal Waltz (+8000) running alone out wide by herself.
Williams had a stranglehold on the leader and eventual winner passing the 300m mark, and once he let her go, Alabama Lass gave a strong kick.
Gallant Son (+4000) and Rich Dottie threatened late to finish in second and third, but it was the Kiwi filly who led every step of the way down the Flemington straight.
Ken Kelso was on course to speak about the win post-race.
“Stunning, she’s just a very fast filly. She just puts herself there and keeps going, she’s pretty special,” Kelso said.
“She tries really hard and she relaxes early in her races.
“She’s really fast but she just drops the bit and just lobs along so she doesn’t exert a lot of energy.
“She coped with it well.
“She did well in Riccarton, she had a flight on the plane, she’d been on the plane to come back from here when we bought her as a yearling, so she’s had a few trips on a plane now and she coped with it really well.
“We’ll get her home and think about it. There could be some nice sprint races here in the spring, but we’ll take a breath and just get her home.
“She deserves a little spell, she’s been up for a while. Onwards and upwards from there.”
Craig Williams was quick to credit the trainers after the victory.
“Full credit to her trainers Bev, who can’t come over today, and Ken Kelso, they do such a great job with these horses,” Williams said.
“She’s really shown how good she is over there but beating their best horse, in the older horse, and she’s only a three-year-old filly and I was really fortunate and delighted to get the call up and ride her.
“It was a great race to come over for and he’s obviously got a great team around him, he brought the right product and didn’t waste anyone’s time.”
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