Highly-touted three-year-old filly Alabama Lass is on track to claim her first Group 1 victory in the NZ$700,000 (approx. HK$3 million) Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie this Saturday, January 25.

Trained by Ken and Bev Kelso, the daughter of Australian sire Alabama Express has already built an impressive resume, boasting Group 2 and Group 3 wins among her four victories. She’s also placed second twice in six career starts, most recently finishing a gutsy runner-up to Captured By Love in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 16—a rival she’ll face again in the Railway Stakes.

Carrying just 115lbs, Alabama Lass is unbeaten in her three previous first-up runs and enters the 11-horse field fresh. Captured By Love will carry 116lbs, with champion Australian jockey Craig Williams in the saddle.

Trainer Ken Kelso expressed confidence in his filly’s preparation:
“She trialled well the other day and is going in fresh after her second in the 1000 Guineas,” Kelso said. “She’s bright and ready to go. It’s all systems go.”

Kelso recalls the promise Alabama Lass displayed when she dominated her debut by 9.5 lengths as a two-year-old at Matamata last February. Despite encountering a rain-affected track in her last start, Kelso believes the 1200m challenge first-up is within her reach.

Quality Rivals Await
The Railway Stakes features a strong lineup, including Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Crocetti, who resumes after placing third behind Babylon Berlin and Waitak in the G3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in December. Walker opted to bypass the G1 Telegraph Stakes earlier this month due to wet conditions but is confident his runner will thrive on Saturday.

“He had a good gallop between races last week, and his work has been excellent,” Walker said. “This is a deep field, and it’ll likely come down to luck in the running.” Walker’s team has added blinkers for Crocetti to sharpen his performance.

Other notable contenders include last year’s winner, Waitak, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. Although Waitak disappointed in his last outing at Trentham, O’Sullivan believes the horse will be better suited to Ellerslie’s turning track.

“We wouldn’t be lining him up if he wasn’t right,” O’Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley’s five-year-old Sacred Satono enters the race after finishing second in the G1 Telegraph (1200m). Wallace sees this as a key opportunity for his sprinter, stating, “He’s consistent and improving with age. He’s a Group 1 horse.”

Rounding out the field is Luberon, who will be partnered with Blake Shinn, flying in from Australia to take the reins.

With a competitive lineup and several in-form runners, Saturday’s Railway Stakes promises to be a thrilling spectacle in New Zealand’s sprinting calendar.

Image HKJC