Alabama Express Another Inglis Easter Success

Media Release - Sunday February 9

He had the ‘wow factor’ at the Easter Yearling Sale and today, exciting 3YO Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) proved himself one of the most sought-after stallion prospects in the country with a devastating victory in the G1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

Alabama Express - image Grant CourtneyHaving just his seventh career start, the colt took on the older horses at Weight For Age for the first time and asserted himself as the latest star in what is a stellar 3YO crop.

Bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock and trained by Mike Moroney, Alabama Express becomes the 41st G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018, more than double our nearest competitor.

He also becomes the sixth G1-winning Inglis 3YO this season and is one of 29 individual Inglis Stakes-winning 3YOs of the season so far.

Purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2018 Easter Yearling Sale at Riverside from the Arrowfield Stud draft for $280,000, Alabama Express (pictured) has now won four of his seven starts for over $500,000 in prizemoney – and his value as a stallion prospect is many, many multiples of that.

“He was a gorgeous colt when we bought him here at Easter at Riverside, he was my standout for the sale and Mike saw him and just went ‘wow’,’’ Paul Moroney said at Riverside today, where he has spent all week inspecting yearlings for the Classic Sale, which begins at 10am tomorrow (Sunday Feb 9).

“We just wondered if we’d have enough money to buy him but we got him and it’s all worked out well. He’s now a Group 1-winning colt by Redoute’s Choice and worth a heck of a lot of money as a result.

“It’s a nice position to be in. It’s why you buy these Classic-looking colts by the right stallions. If you get it right there’s a lot of money out there for it.

“It secures the future not only for the horse but the ongoing business of the stable.’’

Moroney was unsure what Alabama Express’s racing future held after today’s win but knew one thing for sure – his future career as a stallion was now all-but secured.

“He’s co-owned by Arrowfield so he’s probably got a home there any day he wants one but there’s a lot of other studs out there that would love to have him as well,’’ Moroney said.

“I know we’ve already had a lot of interest in him from New Zealand pre this race today.

Alabama Express was a $280,000 Inglis Easter yearling “Arrowfield obviously have the front running but do they need another son of Redoute’s Choice? Maybe they do after Not A Single Doubt was retired recently but it will all be worked out between the owners and Arrowfield. It’s a nice position to be in.’’

Arrowfield’s John Messara said: “It means so much to us to see this beautiful colt win the Orr today, the same race his sire Redoute’s Choice won as a 3YO almost exactly 20 years ago.

“This final stage of Redoute’s Choice’s career as a sire is proving to be the most exciting time of all and there’s so much still to come with his progeny, and of course, his sire sons and broodmare daughters.

“Great credit to Mike Moroney to get this result, we’re absolutely delighted for him and thrilled to be part of the ownership, along with his breeder Jonathan Munz and Rupert & Cheryl Legh.

“The icing on the cake is that Alabama Express becomes Arrowfield’s 13th Group 1-winning Easter graduate since 2013, something we’re all extremely proud of.’’

Earlier on today’s Caulfield program How Womantic (The Wow Signal) kept her unbeaten record alive with a powerful victory in the G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes.

Bred by Rob and Maureen McBryde of Summerset Park Stud in South Australia, the 3YO filly from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable is now a Stakes winner and has won all four of her starts, with her prizemoney exceeding $300,000 already.

Brad Spicer of Spicer Thoroughbreds purchased How Womantic for $50,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Sun Stud.

And Miss Siska resumed a winner when comfortably saluting in the G3 Carlyon Cup at Caulfield.

Having her first run since finishing second in the Sandown Classic at the tail end of the spring carnival, Miss Siska stalked the speed today and proved too strong, being eased down in the latter stages by jockey Damian Lane for an easy win.

Miss Siska is a graduate of the 2015 Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud.

Inspections for the Classic Yearling Sale continued at Riverside today, with a large volume of buyers inspecting around the grounds at Riverside.

The Classic Sale begins to 10am tomorrow (Sunday) and runs for three days.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.