Ken and Bev Kelso enjoyed plenty of success campaigning their former Group One star Bounding through her three-year-old spring campaign, and the Matamata trainers are set to follow that blueprint this season with another exciting filly.
Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) garnered plenty of interest as a juvenile last season when winning on debut at Matamata by 9-1/2 lengths in February before finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) later that month.
The daughter of Alabama Express enjoyed her spell over autumn and has returned with vigour, passing her first test of the season with flying colours when winning her resuming trial at Te Rapa on Tuesday, beating Group One winner Move To Strike in their 900m heat.
“I thought it was a very nice trial, Sam (Spratt, jockey) sat her off the pace a little bit and she cruised into it and won nicely under a hold. I am very happy,” Ken Kelso said.
“I haven’t done a lot with her, she doesn’t need to do a lot, she is quite a lightly framed filly. She has got a lot of ability and she is a natural with what she does.”
Kelso said he is now weighing up his options and whether he will head back to the trials with his filly or kick her off spring campaign at Taupo in a fortnight.
The latter option appeals to Kelso, with Bounding having done the same in her three-year-old spring campaign before going on to win the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m), and finish runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), before ultimately winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m).
Kelso thinks Alabama Lass fits a similar mould and is thinking of following a similar path with the filly towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November.
“I have got the option of either trialling her again or going to the three-year-old race at Taupo on the same day as the trials or go to the Group and Listed trial on that day,” Kelso said.
“I am going to get her home and have a look and see what she has done, how she has done in the feed bin and decide on what we do, but those are the three options we have got.
“We sort of did that with Bounding. She had won as a two-year-old and went to that three-year-old fillies race at Taupo. I am conscious of the fact of giving too many big trips away, so we will play it by ear.
“She has been nominated (for the 1000 Guineas) and they certainly get away with it (mile) as a three-year-old, Bounding did. She ran in a 1000 Guineas and was very unlucky and got beaten for second and then came back and won the Railway.
“She (Alabama Lass) will tell us after the Gold Trail (whether she is on track for the 1000 Guineas). The next logical step is probably the Soliloquy (Gr.3, 1400m), and if you go alright in the Soliloquy you can look to be going further at Riccarton.”
Kelso was also rapt with the resuming trial of multiple Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), who took out her 900m heat against a quality field.
“Ryan (Elliot, jockey) has been over to ride her a couple of times in gallops and keeps telling me she is better than last year, which is a big call,” Kelso said.
“He said she is more forward this year and she has switched on a bit more, and I think that was proven in the trial today. She trialled up well and travelled into the race, which she didn’t do last year, she got beaten in a couple of trials and I was a fraction disappointed.
“She tracked up into the trial today on ground (Heavy10) that is not suitable to her either. It was very pleasing. She is big and strong, and she has really pleased us at home.”
Another trial looms for Legarto before she will likely head to Hastings to tackle the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) next month, although Kelso said that will be weather dependent.
“She will trial again in the Group and Listed trial at Taupo and all going well, and the weather comes right, she will go to the Tarzino,” Kelso said. “It is all up in the air with the weather and tracks at this stage. That is the same plan that we had last year.”
While a trip across the Tasman is potentially on the cards, Kelso said the prizemoney on offer in New Zealand is also an attractive proposition.
“Our money here is very good and there is no rush,” he said. “I have thrown a nomination in today for the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m). We haven’t made any firm plans until after the Tarzino and probably the Arrowfield (Gr.1, 1600m).”
Meanwhile, Kelso was pleased to report the arrival of the first foal out of his former Group One winner Levante (NZ) (Proisir).
“She had a lovely Snitzel filly foal on August 2, nice and early,” he said. “She looks a well-marked filly and Arrowfield are quite happy with her, and mum and foal have come through it well. I am rapt for Philip and Catherine (Brown, owners).”
