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Looking fit and ready in his preliminary, Alamosa Express (3 g Alamosa - Danewhisper, by Danehill) delivered in fine style on debut, courtesy of a top ride by Matt Cameron, on 30 November at Pukekohe.

Following a good trip in fourth, Cameron was seen at his best in the home straight and a tenacious effort by both horse and jockey saw them prevail in a driving finish.  Alamosa Express had previously shown athleticism and a good action when winning a trial by three and a half lengths on Dead6 in October at Waipa.

In the TAB Pukekohe Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he ran 1.11.0, last 600m in 34.9, on footing upgraded to Dead4 after race one, and returned $14.10 & $4.30 on the tote.

Te Akau principal David Ellis was full of praise for the ride by Cameron.

“He lifted him at the three-hundred (metres) and then at the one fifty when he looked beaten he lifted him up again, and not many jockeys would have won on that and it was a really good Matt Cameron ride,” Ellis said.

“Alamosa Express is a very nice horse that was bred by Dr. Ron Boet, who is a good friend of mine.

“Ron is a neurological surgeon in practice in Christchurch and he bred the horse in Canterbury but wanted to have him trained by Te Akau. We also train his half-brother Hushed for him, who won four races last season and he bred both those horses so he is not only a good owner but also a good breeder - breeding good, sound horses.

“The horse came up here after Jamie (Richards) inspected him in Christchurch, was broken in at Te Akau Stud, and been with us ever since. He also turned down good money for the horse to race in Hong Kong, and that looks like it's been a wise move because the horse has a lot of improvement to come and he's still a long way away from reaching his full maturity.

“Ron has had a long involvement in racing and used to be the surgeon for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and he's a lovely bloke,” Ellis said.

Dr. Boet bought the dam, Danewhisper, from a liquidation sale and she came in foal to Align (Night Shift), which Ellis subsequently purchased for $40,000 at the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and racing as Secret Whisper he won four races.

Alamosa Express is trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, and it was Richards whose attentions were alerted to the horse by Dr. Boet.

“Ron invited me to have a look at him (Alamosa Express) a couple of years ago when we were down in Christchurch for Cup Week, after getting Hushed to train, and he is a half-brother to Secret Whisper and Hushed, who we've enjoyed success with,” Richards said.

“He's a horse that has continued to improve all the way through and has the scope for more improvement yet. His first trial this time in, with Jasmine (Fawcett) aboard at Waipa, was very good, and Cameron (Lammas) took him back and taught him a few things at his last trial and he's improved on that.

“He does everything right, is a lovely horse to have around the stables and it's lovely to have success for Ron, who is a renowned surgeon, having worked on a few jockeys in his time: including Shane Dye in Hong Kong, and Judy Lawson when she had a bad smash. I thought it was a lovely ride from Matt, ten out of ten, and a good team effort,” Richards said.

In addition to Secret Whisper and Hushed, the first foal out of Danewhisper, Sinar Pelangi (Faltaat), won three times up to a mile in Malaysia, and half-sister Lasswade (Johar) was thought to be an Oaks' filly before going on to win four races.

Alamosa Express has top sires Danehill (Danzig) and Mr Prospector (Raise a Native) on his dam side, while his third dam, Sangue (Lyphard) was a triple Group One winner of 13 races up to 2200m in the U.S.A.

Alamosa Express was strapped by Melissa Ford.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz