Highly regarded New Zealand filly Alabama Lass has already proven herself on both left and right-handed tracks, but now she faces a new test—tackling the Flemington straight for the first time in her Australian debut.
Set to contest the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday, Alabama Lass has arrived in Melbourne following a strong campaign back home.
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have successfully traveled horses to Australia before, with their charge Legato capturing the Group 1 Australian Guineas in 2023. Their previous visitor, Levante, also produced competitive performances at Flemington.
Alabama Lass has built an impressive record, winning five of her eight career starts while finishing second in the other three—two of those in elite Group 1 company. However, those near misses have been a source of frustration for Ken Kelso.
Kelso attributes those losses to wet conditions, especially in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton and 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.”
Her most recent performance saw her bounce back in style, scoring a commanding victory in the Group 3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 8, reversing her Railway Stakes defeat to Crocetti.
On Wednesday, Crocetti was officially named as Entain New Zealand’s representative for the $4 million 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.”
Adjusting to the Flemington straight will be a crucial factor, but Alabama Lass will have an experienced guide in jockey Craig Williams.
“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.”
Alabama Lass will now look to make her mark in Australia and continue her impressive record on both sides of the Tasman.
