PILKINGTON FORESIGHT FOR FOUR PILLARS BID

JACK Pilkington was confident he wasn’t putting the cart before the horse!

With enough faith in Alabama State to provide him with his first city winner at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, the Hawkesbury trainer had the foresight to ask apprentice Zac Wadick to ride the colt in his final gallop there earlier in the week.

Pilkington’s reasoning was that Alabama State would go right up in weight for the $500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at the same track on November 2.

Alabama State ($3.60 favorite), with thrice Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard, justified his trainer’s confidence by overcoming difficulties to land the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) to enhance his claims for a richer Four Pillars assignment.

And Pilkington wasted no time booking Wadick for the mount to take advantage of his 3kg city claim.

“The Four Pillars has been in the back of my mind, and I got Zac to ride Alabama State work at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning to get a feel of him,” Pilkington explained on Sunday.

“It’s a Benchmark 68 Handicap (restricted to eligible metropolitan and provincial trainers) for three-year-olds and upwards.

“As a result, Alabama State is going to go up considerably in weight for that race.

“His benchmark rating was 66 before Saturday’s win and, apart from the fact that will increase, he will also be going back to a 68 instead of a 72, so I felt it was best to get Zac on board without any delay.”

Wadick, now apprentice to leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup, and Pilkington are by no means strangers.

“I knew Zac when I was looking after the Warwick Farm stable of Mark Newnham (whose main barn was at Royal Randwick,” Pilkington said.

“Zac was apprenticed to Mark before going to Taree with Glen Milligan and then joining Brad at Hawkesbury at the end of last year.

“He is a fine young man and a very good rider, and his claim will be invaluable for the Four Pillars.”

It has taken expatriate Irishman Pilkington only nine runners (all with Alabama State) to put his name up in lights in town – and Rosehill Gardens could not have been a more appropriate venue.

“I gave Alabama State his first start there in January when fifth in a 2YO Handicap (1100m), and his last three runs have all been back there,” he said.

“After winning first-up at Hawkesbury in August, he ran an excellent fourth from a wide barrier at Rosehill, and then was second there before winning.

“Alabama State races well at Rosehill, so the Four Pillars is a perfect target.”

Pilkington had his good mate Jamie Piggott (son of legendary UK jockey Lester Piggott) by his side when he purchased the son of Alabama Express for $80,000 at Book 2 of last year’s Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast, and then syndicated him amongst Australian and international owners.

He was the first horse Pilkington bought after taking out his training license, and Alabama State already has more than paid his way. The Rosehill victory took his earnings to $137,550.

The colt is having a well-earned few days break at Bella Jane Lodge at North Richmond before returning to Pilkington’s Hawkesbury stable to prepare for his Four Pillars assignment.

“Bella Jane Lodge comes under the Cavallo Park banner,” Pilkington said. “The two farms back on to each other.

“Alabama State goes out into a paddock and is brought in to use the water walker.

“He also spells there between preparations, and they do a terrific job looking after all the horses.

“When I left Alabama State after taking him there following his Rosehill win, he was chasing a magpie around the paddock.”

Whilst Alabama State is currently the only horse Pilkington has which is racing, he has former Victorian mare Pretty Tavi (by Tavistock) in work.

“She is a five-year-old who has won three races from only 13 starts, and I expect to start her in about a month, and Zac (Wadick) most likely will ride her,” Pilkington said.

“I also have a pair of two-year-olds which will kick off their careers early in the new year, and another couple which will race later in the season.

“Hopefully Alabama State is going to attract more owners to my stable.”

Story John Curtis, October 13, 2024 - Pics Bradley Pics