HE went out a winner, and returned a winner!
Now he’s ready to chase a Saturday breakthrough in town.
Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington outlined the plan for his talented three-year-old Alabama State after he had resumed in great style at his home track on Thursday.
A well-backed $2.10 favorite, Alabama State (Jason Collett) looked a class above his opposition in the Micway Midway Class 1 Handicap (1100m).
Once he secured clear running in the straight, the colt quickly put the issue beyond doubt and defeated Narrative ($13) and Sneaky Sofia ($8.50) to post his second victory from only six starts.
Pilkington turned Alabama State out after he won an 1100m CG&E Maiden Handicap at home on March 28, and gave him two trials at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury (he ran second in both) to prepare for a resumption.
“I knew he was above himself but was hoping he was still good enough to beat them,” Pilkington said on Thursday evening.
“Thankfully, he was good enough and I wanted to win first-up with him so we can go to a Midway Handicap in town.
“Provided he continues to do well, there is a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 14.
“Tyler Schiller will be his jockey. He has already partnered Alabama State in a trial, and will ride him whenever he doesn’t have Jason Collett’s weight.
“There’s no rush either. I’ll let him go through his grades this preparation.”
Pilkington paid $80,000 for Alabama State at Book 2 of the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast in January last year, and syndicated him.
Good friend Jamie Piggott, son of the legendary jockey Lester Piggott, was in Australia at the time and was with Pilkington at the sale.
He is a member of the syndicate, and the colt races in the colours of well-known owner Peter Horwitz.
Pilkington had intended to spell Alabama State irrespective of whether he won or lost at the end of last campaign, and is delighted with how he has returned.
For now at least he remains a colt. “He’s a big boy and the syndicate voted to decide whether we should geld him,” Pilkington said.
“The vote was narrowly in favour of leaving him a colt.”
Pilkington is steadily building his Hawkesbury team, and Alabama State is certainly putting his name out there.
He has another tried horse and three unraced two-year-olds and is being sent another horse from a new owner.
Whilst Nash Rawiller added today’s Listed Pioneer Services Rowley Mile on Cepheus ($7) to his 2007 victory on Beauty Watch, three other jockeys fell foul of Racing NSW stewards.
Reece Jones and Tom Sherry copped brief suspensions for alleged careless riding charges, and Jaden Lloyd also was outed for weighing in more than 1kg over on second placegetter Honey Perfume ($20) in the Clarendon Tavern Super Maiden Plate (1100m).
. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees missed out on the Rowley Mile with his two runners Luncies and Yankee Hussel, but won the Queen Of The Valley Matchmaker (1280m) at Muswellbrook with Lady Soames ($5.50), ridden by his apprentice Ben Osmond.
Story John Curtis, August 22, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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