Classy New Zealand filly Alabama Lass has conquered racing right and left-handed, now she must take to straight racing at her Australian debut.
Alabama Lass has arrived in Melbourne to contest the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday after showing her ability in New Zealand.
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso are no strangers to travelling horses to Australia having won the Group 1 Australian Guineas in 2023 with Legarto (NZ) (Prosir) while stablemate Levante (NZ) (Proisir) was also productive on an earlier excursion to Flemington.
Alabama Lass has won five of her eight starts to date, finishing second on three occasions, two of which were in Group 1 contests, a cause of frustration for Ken Kelso.
He said wet tracks had played a hand in bringing about Alabama Lass’ downfall, firstly in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton and then in the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
“We stretched her out to a mile at Riccarton and she’ll probably never go another mile in her life, but we did that as it’s the only Group 1 three-year-old fillies race in New Zealand,” Kelso said.
“Unfortunately, it rained quite a bit in the morning, and it was slow by the time she raced.
“Then in the Railway, we were a bit unlucky. It stayed fine all through Karaka Day and then the rain came about an hour before our race.
“She was very brave on both of those rain affected tracks. She deserved to fold up in the Guineas over a mile, but she kept on going and if she had not met those, she may have well been unbeaten as a three-year-old.”
Alabama Lass returned to form with an imposing victory in the Group 3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 8 where she turned the tables on Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) from their meeting in the Railway Stakes.
Crocetti was on Wednesday announced as Entain New Zealand’s representative in the $4 million slot race The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot next month.
“She won impressively that day,” Kelso said.
“Luckily, we got a good track, and she won well, so after that we’ve decided to roll the dice and have a go at Flemington.”
Kelso admits it will be a different test on Saturday, racing down the straight for the first time.
But the Kelso’s are leaving nothing to chance, engaging Craig Williams for the ride.
“She has to adapt to the straight,” Kelso said.
“It’s a different scenario, so that is why we’ve elected to go with an Australian jockey in Craig Williams as he knows how to ride the straight.
“She doesn’t have to lead. Earlier, if something had taken her on, she was able to take a sit. She’s pretty tractable, she’s not a mad tearaway that has to lead from the front.”
