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Group 1-winner to stand at Victorian-based stud.
Group 1 winner Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice) has been retired from racing and will now stand at YuLong Stud in Victoria for the upcoming breeding season.
The son of breed-shaping stallion Redoute's Choice (Danehill) joins Grunt (O'Reilly) on the Yulong roster, with the farm also having purchased the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) - who will also join the roster at the end of his racing career - showing YuLong owner, Mr Zhang's commitment to the Victorian breeding industry.
"This Australian sire-power is complemented by his quality international female family which should suit the local broodmare population," said Sam Fairgray, YuLong's chief operating officer.
"Alabama Express is a horse with a standout profile for success, with an exquisite pedigree, a Group 1 weight-for-age win at three and is a beautiful physical."
Trained Mike Moroney, Alabama Express emulated his sire Redoute's Choice (Danehill) in taking out the CF Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) on February 8 - becoming the first three-year-old to land the Group 1 since All Too Hard (Casino Prince).
"Yulong is dedicated to supporting Victorian breeders by continuing to develop a roster of Group 1-winning stallions," Fairgray said.
"Like Grunt, we will be supporting Alabama Express with many of our star mares in his first several seasons to ensure he has a strong start to stud.
"For Victoria to have a Group 1-winning son of Redoute's Choice is fantastic for breeders. Alabama Express is bred along the same lines as Beneteau and Zoustar and he will really work with the Australian broodmare band.
"He is out of an Encosta De Lago mare and Yulong is absolutely committed to Victoria and Mr Zhang has purchased a lot of quality mares in the last couple of years to support these young stallions to give them every opportunity."
Alabama Express retires the winner of four of his eight career starts which saw him accumulate $554,750 in career prize-money.
The colt is out of Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) mare Lago Ovation, who is herself a half-sister to Group 2-placed Rekindled Power (Redoute's Choice) and Group 3-placed Shuffle Up (Redoute's Choice).
Further back this is family of dual Group 2 winner Rekindled Interest (Redoute's Choice), Group 3 winner Where We Left Off (Dr Devious) and Listed scorer Porticcio (Lomitas).
"He had a lot of his dad, Redoute's Choice, about him," said Moroney. "He was a great moving horse and to me, he was a standout on class. He's got all the hallmarks to make a great stallion – he's a Group 1 winner, he's athletic and he's a standout on type."
A fee for the stallion will be announced next week.
