Cover image courtesy of Vinery Stud
Elsdon Park’s Alabama Express filly out of Timely Guest (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) has impressed General Manager Kerrie Cox, and the mare may prove to be a bargain. Modestly purchased via Inglis Digital, she has produced a quality maiden foal and hails from a current and active family.
A current, commercial pedigree with upside
She may have been unraced, but when you take a look at her pedigree it is easy to see why Timely Guest (NZ) appealed to Elsdon Park, who astutely secured her via Bruce Perry Bloodstock for just $8,000 through the Inglis Digital Sale, and since then the pedigree has only gone onto become even deeper and more commercial.
The Time Test (GB) mare is a half-sister to Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), a seven-time winner including in the G2 Awapuni Cup, G3 Manawatu Cup, and the Listed St Leger Stakes. He was also placed in the G1 Auckland Cup.
Timely Guest (NZ) with her Alabama Express filly foal at foot | Image courtesy of Angelique Bridson
Another half-sister, Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), was a five-time winner who claimed the Listed Feilding Gold Cup, and placed in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup. After her racing career, she has since gone on to excel as a broodmare.
When mated with Per Incanto (USA), she has produced Charms Star (NZ), winner of the G3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes and twice Group 1-placed, and the now her headline act Jimmysstar (NZ), a nine-time winner including in the G1 All Aged Stakes, G1 Oakleigh Plate, and the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes.
“It’s nice when you kick off the season with a maiden mare and all goes well, and she leaves a cracking filly like she has done,” Cox commented.
“It’s definitely a very commercial family with the filly being so closely related to Jimmysstar.
Kerrie Cox | Image courtesy of Elsdon Park
“We found a little diamond in the rough when we picked up the mare via Inglis Digital. We didn’t pay a lot for her, and to leave a beautiful filly like she has is a great result.
Cox explained how it worked with the mare being served by Yulong Stud's Alabama Express.
“We have shares in Alabama Express, so it seemed a natural fit to leave her in Australia and get her in foal before sending her back home. Stonehouse Thoroughbreds did a great job for us getting her ready and in foal.”
The family continues to evolve, with Cox highlighting the strength beneath the second dam, “The family has real depth. Jacksstar, Charms Star, Anniesstar and Jimmysstar are all Group winners and have the bold print under the second dam."
Alabama Express | Standing at Yulong
The family is being bred well from several different angles, as Widden Stud are breeding from Charms Star, and The Algie family and the Little Avondale Trust are breeding from Timely Moment’s full sister Timetostar (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), who is actually due to foal a three-quarter sibling to Jimmysstar next month after visiting Per Incanto last season.
“Widden Stud actually own Charms Star now, and have got her in foal to Proisir, so she is being bred well. She will be bred to one of their lovely stallions this season. So the family is being bred well and there is plenty of upside.”
The excitement of 'The Everest'
While the pedigree was already commercial, Jimmysstar has taken it to a new level. From just 18 career starts, the gelding has picked up nine wins and nearly $2.15 million in prizemoney, and that figure may rise substantially this spring as he is locked in for the 2025 edition of the $20 million G1 The Everest.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, Jimmysstar looks to have returned in great order, finishing a solid third in a recent Gosford trial.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Jimmysstar being in the Everest is very exciting and has the potential to boost the pedigree even more, there is no doubt we will be following with lots of interest in what he does not just in the Everest but his whole campaign.”
Per Incanto up next for Timely Guest
The next mating for Timely Guest looks a logical one, she’ll head to Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto, a proven match for the family. In fact, it’s a plan the Elsdon Park team had in mind from the moment they purchased her.
“When we purchased Timely Guest, we always thought that once we brought her home, she would go to Per Incanto. We also have shares in him, and because of the pedigree link to Jimmysstar.
Per Incanto (USA) | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
“Per Incanto has been very good to us, we bred Lost And Running, and we have sold very well when using him.
“It just makes sense, so Per Incanto is the plan, hopefully she can get a nice early cover and Little Avondale Stud always does a good job for us.”
The season underway at Elsdon Park
The Alabama Express filly was not only a significant first foal for Timely Guest, but also the first foal of the season for Elsdon Park, the Waikato-based farm established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna.
“It was the first foal for the season, we are expecting to foal down about 65, and we have a good handful of mares over in Australia that will be bred over there,” Cox said.
“It’s been a really warm winter, so it’s nice going into the spring with plenty of feed, we are ready for it.
It’s the best time of the year, it’s why we do it - it’s the busiest, but it's the best.”
