Progressive breeding and racing operation Yulong has invested heavily in Victoria, illustrated by the purchase of Alabama Express in February this year followed soon after by the acquisition of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).
The decision has been made for the G1 CF Orr S. winner Alabama Express to stand alongside second season sire Grunt for the 2020 season.
“Yulong is dedicated to supporting Victorian breeders by continuing to develop a roster of Group 1-winning stallions,” Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray said.
“Like Grunt, we will be supporting Alabama Express with many of our star mares in his first several seasons to ensure he has a strong start to stud.”
Alabama Express, whose service fee will be announced early next week, won four of his eight starts from Michael Moroney’s Flemington stable, including a defeat of the older horses in the G1 CF Orr S.
“For Victoria to have a Group 1-winning son of Redoute’s Choice is fantastic for breeders. Alabama Express is bred along the same lines as Beneteau and Zoustar and he will really work with the Australian broodmare band.
“For Victoria to have a Group 1-winning son of Redoute’s Choice is fantastic for breeders.” – Sam Fairgray
“He is out of an Encosta De Lago mare and Yulong is absolutely committed to Victoria and Mr Zhang has purchased a lot of quality mares in the last couple of years to support these young stallions to give them every opportunity.”
Alabama Express | Image by Vince Caligiuri courtesy of AAP Photos
Alabama Express’ dam Lago Ovation is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice) and the family of the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year and five-time Group 1 winner Designs On Rome (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
“He will be a very easy horse to mate and is a very attractive and neat horse. When you look at his head he is very similar to Redoute’s Choice himself and has that same temperament,” Fairgray said.
“With all those attributes it’s an easy decision to breed to a stallion like him. Alabama Express is a horse with a standout profile for success - an exquisite pedigree, a Group 1 weight-for-age win as a 3-year-old and is a beautiful physical.”
The late Redoute's Choice, sire of Alabama Express
“We feel it is the right time under the current circumstances and uncertainty to retire him. He doesn’t need to do anymore on the racetrack.”
“We feel it is the right time under the current circumstances and uncertainty to retire him.” – Sam Fairgray
Alabama Express was a debut winner as a 2-year-old and quickly stepped up when winning his first start in a stakes race as a spring 3-year-old.
He subsequently faced a number of the leading weight-for-age performers when emulating his sire Redoute’s Choice to win the CF Orr S. at Caulfield.
He accounted for the winners of seven Group 1 races and ran the fastest time since Lonhro in 2004 to become the first 3-year-old winner of the feature since All Too Hard in 2013.
“Alabama Express was just a cracking athlete and he had a lot of quality, with a great mind,” said Paul Moroney, who purchased the colt for $280,000 from the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale.
“He had a lot of his dad, Redoute’s Choice, about him. He was a great moving horse and to me, he was a standout on class. He’s got all the hallmarks to make a great stallion – he’s a Group 1 winner, he’s athletic and is a standout on type.”
