Pilkington’s State gets black-type test in Spring Stakes

Jack Pilkington will chase his maiden Stakes win as a trainer in this Saturday’s Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the rookie trainer thinks it would be appropriate if Alabama State landed the milestone.

The Alabama Express colt’s first start back in January was Pilkington’s first as a trainer and he has resisted the temptation to test him in Black Type company until now, but considers the time now right.

“He’s obviously been a great flagbearer for me and he’s always given me the impression that he’s a Stakes-grade horse,” Pilkington said.

“I’ve always found that when horses give you that impression they get there sooner or later.

“I’ve been aiming at this for a while. The preparation as a whole, the aim was to go through the grades somewhat and give him a chance at Stakes racing at the end of the prep and this will be his last run for the prep and this is his Stakes race chance.”

Alabama State heads into the $250,000 Spring Stakes off a fourth placing in the $500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2 when he finished fourth, beaten just three-quarters-of-a-length, after racing wide throughout.

The start prior Alabama State provided Pilkington with his maiden metropolitan success with victory in a Midway at Rosehill on October 12.

One thing Pilkington knows heading into the Spring Stakes is he won’t be starting from gate 18 like he did in the Four Pillars with only 12 horses nominated for the 1600m event and the Hawkesbury horseman is confident he can turn in one more big performance.

“As long as he hasn’t come to the end of it, because we haven’t gone six races into a prep with him and he is coming off a hard race last start, but as long as he’s right to put his best foot forward I think he’s well-placed.”

Zac Wadick rode Alabama State in the Four Pillars but Kerrin Mcevoy, who was aboard for the Rosehill win, returns to the saddle for the Spring Stakes.

Potential rivals for Alabama State include the Chris Waller-trained Althoff, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s The Three Hundred, who is chasing a third-straight win, and last-start Randwick runner-up Titanium Miss.