New Zealand’s sprint Queen Alabama Lass stepped out for her first appearance of the season on Saturday and was quickly back in the winning groove as she eased clear in the run home to take out the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) a Te Rapa.
The Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) at Taupo has a prestigious honour roll and has duly been elevated to Listed status this season, and it has attracted a field to suit on Sunday.
Alabama Lass cemented her place at the top of the TAB’s futures market for the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in a fortnight following her comfortable trial win over 1050m at the Hamilton track on Saturday.
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have been scratching their heads with their Group One-performed mare Alabama Lass over the last few months, but they received a confidence boost following her win in a Group and Listed 1100m trial at Taupo on Sunday.
Ken and Bev Kelsos’ millionaire duo of Legarto and Alabama Lass are well on target for further major assignments as the feature summer racing period looms.
“She will appreciate getting back onto a better track at Ellerslie, so hopefully we are tracking in the right way. Her work this morning indicated that we are on track for a nice run on Saturday.”
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
