Manikato mission for Alabama Lass

[Wandering Eyes]

New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.

The four-year-old mare had won her only other Australian start at Flemington in March when victorious in the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m), and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were pleased to see her measure up to the highest level in the competitive jurisdiction on the weekend.

“I was very pleased,” Ken Kelso said. “She probably didn’t get all favours. She was quite fresh and over-raced a bit and then got that bump on the corner, which probably cost her a little bit, but it was a fantastic run.

“It proved that she can measure up to Aussie sprinters, they are renowned for them, so to measure up to their sprinters at Group One level was a big achievement for the horse, and a Group One second place is huge for her pedigree. I am very rapt.”

Alabama Lass has now won six and finished runner-up in four of her 10 career starts, including second placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Moir Stakes.

“She is such a trier, she has never finished back further than second in her 10 starts at the highest level, so you can only be pleased with that, and she can only keep improving,” Kelso said.

An elusive elite-level victory is firmly in the crosshairs, with Kelso now eyeing the Manikato Stakes on September 26 with his mare.

“On that run, we have got to stay for the Manikato,” he said. “Craig Williams is booked to ride her again, so all systems are go to head there.”

Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Kelso was pleased with Legarto’s (NZ) (Proisir) sixth place run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“I thought it was a good run, and she has pulled well,” he said. “She got out of her ground and didn’t get a lot of favours in the straight. Her sectionals were very good, she was still going to the line and her best work was probably in the last 50m.

“All-in-all it was a good run at Ellerslie, a track she hasn’t particularly gone that great at and 1400 is probably a bit sharp for her now.”

Legarto had the one trial prior to her first-up run, finishing behind Alabama Lass in their 1050m heat at Te Rapa last month, and Kelso is looking forward to returning to the Hamilton track with his mare for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) on September 27.

“She is on track to go to Te Rapa for the mile,” he said.

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