Russian Alliance Rewarded with G3 Ken Russell Classic

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 6

Russian Revolution has been running hot with his two year-olds this season, but none of them have won more races than the Kevin Kemp trained filly Russian Alliance, who posted her fifth win from six starts when upping the ante to score a tenacious win in the Group III Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.

Russian Alliance made her debut last September when finishing fourth in the Pat O’Shea Plate at Toowoomba, the first juvenile race of the season in Queensland and has not put a foot wrong since.

She has worked through the grades and kept up the good work when knuckling down to her task to come again for Larry Cassidy after being headed to claim a half head win over Abounding.

“It's easy to train the good ones. She was so good today, that's my first Group 3 win as a trainer so we can go and celebrate with a few drinks now!" said Kevin Kemp.

"I was a bit worried 100 metres out, because I thought the other horse had us beat. But she showed great fight and she's just a beautiful filly.

"We'll come up with a plan after we've had those drinks! It's just nice to win this one, we'll worry about the next race next week."

Larry Cassidy was full of praise for the filly and believes her winning run is not finished yet.

Advertisement

"I don't think further will be any trouble, she should get 1400 metres no problem. I'll leave it to Kevin but I would've thought she should have a crack at some good races over the carnival, because she's earned it,” he said.

Russian Alliance was a $65,000 Magic Millions purchase.

A $65,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase from the Nobel Bend Farm draft for part owner Paul Reedy, Russian Alliance was a $10,000 Inglis Digital purchase as a weanling and has the impressive record of five wins from six starts with earnings just shy of $220,000.

Bred by Chesapeake Thoroughbreds and Grand Lodge Thoroughbreds, she is the second winner from two to race from Sea Dweller (GB), a placed High Chaparral daughter of Australian stakes-winner Langoustine.

Sea Dweller was sold at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $70,000 to Ben Kwok’s Lionrock Bloodstock and was exported to New Zealand. She had a filly by Vanbrugh last spring and is back in foal to him again.

Russian Revolution

Russian Alliance is the eighth stakes-winner and fourth 2YO stakes-winner this season for Russian Revolution, who has had a fee increase at Newgate and stands at $88,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Ken Russell Mem. Classic Gr3 1200m

Sunshine Coast Track: Good(4) Time: 1:11.24
1
Russian Alliance
- 2f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Sea Dweller (GB) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: L V Cassidy 55
2
0.1
Abounding
- 2f Rich Enuff (AUS) x Transonic (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Tim Clark 55
Rich Enuff
3
2.4
Trifling
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Wabeel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Ms H Page Rdr: Ben Thompson 55
4
3.4
Boom Master
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Widow's Walk (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
5
3.7
Influential
- 2c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Progressive (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
6
3.9
Zimo
- 2c Written By (AUS) x Meghapushpa (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 57
7
4.1
Ringer's Reward
- 2f Under The Louvre (AUS) x Matilda's Dance (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: Madeleine Wishart 55
8
5.4
She Mine
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Semine (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: Ms N Beriman 55
9
6.9
Money Team
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x The Pinnacle (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: Kacy Fogden Rdr: J Byrne 57
10
7.4
Mishani Gangster
- 2g Kobayashi (AUS) x Shady Daisy (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: James Orman 57
11
11.4
Torque I Tee
- 2g Shalaa (IRE) x Computer (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: Brodie Loy 57
12
11.9
Rothgo
- 2g Rothesay (AUS) x Pacific Express (AUS) (Sequalo (AUS))
Tnr: John Thomas Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 57
More Reading...
Headline Acts at a Bigger 2026 Inglis Easter
Countless headline acts are scheduled to take their place at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, for which the catalogue is nearing its final stages of completion.
Saving Baby Ryan
An orphaned foal bred in Victoria faced an uphill battle when he arrived at Larneuk Stud in the spring of 2021 and four years on he is now a winner!
From Kingston Town to Northerly - A Race Named for Champions
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - It is of course, the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes run over 1800m at WFA, and this year marks its 50th running.
Chaldean Foals Popular at Tattersalls December
The first Northern Hemisphere bred foals by Cambridge Stud shuttler Chaldean (GB) were in keen demand at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a cracking filly leading the way when she changed hands for 240,000gns.
Quality Tasmanian Yearling Catalogue Now Online
The auction renowned for producing world class racehorses at value prices is ready to do it all again following today's online release of the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale catalogue.
Less Spring 2YO Races? Chicken or Egg
On Wednesday we ran a story which has been very well read highlighting the decline in two-year-olds seen during the spring racing which got us to wondering what’s driving it – lack of races or lack of horses?
Sires With Winners - Thursday December 4
Here is the full list of 34 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Shares in Group One Stars Highlight MM Digital Sale
Shares in three Group winning stars with major Summer and Autumn Carnival targets headline the catalogue for the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which is now open for bidding.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 WATC Northerly Stakes
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - so who can win? 
D’Argento Filly Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Stakes-placed at two and fourth in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Tempted, it seems amazing that D’Argento filly Sequista was not a winner until Thursday, but she picked a good day to break the ice claiming a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus for her Gosford victory.