Yulong confirms service fee for Alabama Express
C F Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Alabama Express, who was officially retired from racing last week, will stand for an introductory fee of $27,500 (all fees inclusive of GST) at Yulong this year.
The Yuesheng Zhang-owned Nagambie-based stud farm yesterday confirmed the service fee for the former Mike Moroney-trained, juvenile-winning Alabama Express and that of his barnmate Grunt (O’Reilly).
A dual Group 1 winner, Grunt was well supported by breeders in his first season at stud last year, covering 178 mares at a fee of $13,750. His 2020 fee remains unchanged.
“We’re excited to stand two very talented Group 1 winners at Yulong in 2020,” Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said.
“I worked closely with the great Redoute’s Choice for years (at Arrowfield Stud) and now couldn’t be prouder to stand his son Alabama Express at Yulong, who is a physical replica of his sire.”
Fairgray said breeders who send mares to Grunt this year can have confidence coming off a strong first season book to help their cause come the 2023 yearling sales.
“Grunt kicked off his stud career with incredible support and a fantastic fertility rate of around 90 per cent, so breeders can be confident they will have a high chance of getting their mare in foal,” he said.
“He is a gorgeous individual and a pleasure to deal with. We are looking forward to seeing his first foals arrive in August.”
Moroney, whose agent brother Paul selected Alabama Express as a yearling, yesterday reiterated his belief in the credentials the rising four-year-old takes to stud.
“His father [Redoute’s Choice] won the CF Orr Stakes and he’s more like dad than any other horse I’ve seen,” Moroney said.
“If you can replicate even half of what his dad has done, he’s going to be a successful sire.”
Earlier this year. Yulong also bought into the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) with a view to standing him at stud in the future.
The rising three-year-old will race on for at least another season before joining Alabama Express and Grunt in the stallion barn.
Yulong
2020 2019
Alabama Express $27,500 new
Grunt $13,750 unchanged
*all fees inclusive of GST