Alabama Lass on song for Manikato

[Wandering Eyes]

Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) is in fine fettle ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday, pleasing jockey Craig Williams with her work on the Melbourne track on Monday. 

“I was really happy with her,” Williams told Racing.com. “She enjoyed it. It is a privilege to come out here in preparation for Friday’s Group One tilt. 

“Megan (Winter), who has been entrusted with her care over here while Ken and Bev (Kelso, trainers) are back in New Zealand, is doing a really good job.” 

Williams is starting to form a good bond with the mare, having ridden her in her last two starts, including winning the Listed Moomba Plate (1100m) at Flemington in March, and second in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) first-up at The Valley earlier this month. 

“I have been on her a few times now after her first-up run since being here, so I am starting to understand her a lot more,” Williams said. 

“When I first got on her in the mounting yard she was quite full on and when I first rode her in work she was quite full on, and Megan gave me a few pointers with her and now I am really starting to understand her. 

“I have got a really good relationship with her. She is getting on the track and doing things a lot nicer and straightforward for me, and I loved her work this morning.” 

Looking ahead to Saturday, Williams said Alabama Lass will be ideally suited to the 1200m. 

“The distance of 1200m on Friday is definitely in her wheelhouse,” he said. “When she resumed in the Moir it was her first time she had raced over 1000m and she acquit herself really well. Probably a bit too well, she was a bit fresh and tried to overdo it. 

“The 1200m she can really get into her rhythm and she will take a lot of running down the way she felt this morning.”

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