The rapid rise of Alabama Lass continued on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival on Saturday, the filly putting on a stellar display to win the Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

A stakes-winner in Ireland when trained by Joseph O’Brien, Fastnet Rock import Buckaroo (GB) came to Australia last year to run in the Group I ATC King Charles Stakes and Group I VRC Champions Stakes and while he didn’t win either of those, he showed his true colours at Randwick on Saturday for his new trainer Chris Waller.