ALABAMA EXPRESS
Redoute’s Choice X Lago Ovation, By Encosta De Lago
Service Fee – $22,000inc
Following exceptional results from his debut crop at the yearling sales earlier in the year, all eyes will be on the first 2-year-olds by Alabama Express in 2023.
The son of Redoute’s Choice finished the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as the leading first-season sire by average, including a top price of $400,000 for the colt purchased by Alabama Express’ own buyer Paul Moroney, in partnership with Ballymore Stables Australia and Catheryne Bruggeman.
After viewing the first crop of consistent quality types thrown by Alabama Express, Moroney declared the young sire as “a serious stallion to follow”.
At Magic Millions in January, 15 of his youngsters sold for an average of over $145,000 into the hands of leading stables such as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
With that sale headed by a $350,000 Yulong-bred filly out of Erato, the results continued at Karaka, where a colt from Elsdon Park sold for NZ$220,000, and into Inglis Classic Sale where Laurel Oak Bloodstock and Lindsay Park Racing teamed up on a striking filly for $180,000.
His sire Redoute’s Choice, is an Australian phenomenon, peerless in his achievements at stud and continues to build his legacy through exceptional sons and daughters.
Trained by Mike Moroney, Alabama Express faced some of the best horses in the country under a tough run at Caulfield when he took out the WFA G1 C F Orr Stakes; a race also won by his exceptional sire.
“He had the toughest run in the race and still won,” said trainer Mike Moroney. “When I saw he couldn’t get in, I thought it was game over, but it just shows you how good this horse is.”
“His father [Redoute’s Choice] won this race and he’s more like dad than any other horse I’ve seen.”
“If you can replicate even half of what his dad has done, he’s going to be a successful sire.”
Alabama Express was bred by GSA Bloodstock and purchased at the Inglis Easter Sale from Arrowfield Stud for $280,000.
“He was just a cracking athlete and he had a lot of quality, with a great mind,” commented Paul Moroney who purchased the colt as a yearling. “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 obviously taken that quality of his looks across to the racetrack and he’s proven himself as a high-quality racehorse. He’s got all the hallmarks of making a great stallion prospect – he’s a Group 1 winner, he’s athletic, he’s a standout on type and he’s got a lot of his dad about him.”