OCTOBER 30, 2024: THERE were no such things as half-million dollar races when JACK PILKINGTON rode over the “sticks” as an amateur.
Fast forward the years and, after trekking around the world to learn as much as he could about the training caper, he now has an opportunity to win one of them early in his fledgling career.
Hawkesbury-based Pilkington has his talent-laden three-year-old Alabama State running for him in Saturday’s $500,000 The Four Pillars Midway (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Though a London native, 31-year-old Pilkington understandably regards himself as an Irishman considering the family shifted camp six months after he was born.
“It was always my dream to be a jumps jockey, and I did ride for a time as an amateur,” Pilkington said on Tuesday evening.
“But I was too tall, and it was never going to be sustainable.”
Undaunted, he switched his sights to becoming a trainer – and set out on a remarkable journey which saw him visit a host of countries in his quest to achieve his goal.
“I knew that if I wanted to be successful, I had to work with the best and soak up as much information about their techniques as I could,” Pilkington said.
“First stop was Australia, but not before I started out at home working with one of the UK’s leading trainers Charlie Hills.
“It was during my time there that I met Ben Hayes, who was also spending time with Charlie learning his craft.
“We have remained good friends and when I first came to Australia in 2015, I spent a week’s holiday with the Hayes family during Melbourne Cup week when Prince Of Penzance won the Cup.
“I then moved to Sydney and joined Chris Waller for six months before rejoining the Hayes team and worked at three different venues (Euroa, Morphettville and Flemington).
“Ben’s father David decided to send a team of 14 horses to his Morphettville stable to win the Adelaide premiership, and we did it.
“We won at least one race there for 16 Saturdays in row, and there was an occasion where I strapped three winners in the one day.
“I also spent some time at Caulfield with Ciaron Maher when he won the Cup with Jameka.”
Pilkington then took off on a round the world trip, spending valuable time at leading stables in South Africa, the USA, Canada, Dubai, France and Japan.
“I was in South Africa for four months, six months in the USA, two months in Canada, five months in Dubai, five months in France and four months in Japan, along with making intermittent trips back home,” he said.
“Having enjoyed my first trip to Australia, I could see it was a land of opportunity and returned about six years ago.
“It was a good option.”
Pilkington renewed an association initially with master trainer Chris Waller, riding work for six months, and then joined the now Hong Kong-based Mark Newnham as foreman at his second stable at Warwick Farm.
“Mark would have preferred to have had all his horses at Randwick, but he had to start that way with two stables to build his team,” he said.
“He came to Warwick Farm three times a week, and we had plenty of success during my time there.
“I would liked to have won a Group 1 for him, but Harmony Rose was just caught by Hungry Heart (who subsequently also won the Group 1 ATC Oaks) in the 2021 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.”
“Chris (Waller) was aware what I was doing with Mark’s Warwick Farm team, and gave me an opportunity to rejoin him as racing manager for nearly two years.”
Confident he was ready to finally take the jump to train on his own, Pilkington bought his first horse at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
Accompanied by close mate Jamie Piggott (son of the legendary Lester Piggott), he secured an Alabama Express youngster for $80,000 and syndicated him to race as Alabama State.
“Alabama Express won four of his eight starts (including the 2020 Group 1 Orr Stakes, 1400m at Caulfield), and the colt has a fantastic pedigree on his dam’s side,” Pilkington said.
“I didn’t think I would get him, and probably would not have if he had been in the main sale.
“Even though he was in Book 2, I still thought he would be out of my reach and bring anywhere from
$120,000 to $150,000.
“I looked at 350 yearlings, narrowed that down to 40 and then 10.
“In my opinion, he was the best colt in Book 2. Whilst he was big, he had such a lovely demeanour and was nicely proportioned and well balanced.”
Pilkington set up shop at Hawkesbury and didn’t rush his new purchase.
“I didn’t even bother about the Magic Millions as a two-year-old,” he said. “I told the owners he wouldn’t be ready for that.”’
Instead, Alabama State made his debut as a $41 roughie when fifth at Rosehill in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on January 20 this year; a week after Storm Boy had trounced his rivals in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Pilkington gave his colt five starts as a two-year-old, and turned him out after he broke through, defeating older horses in an 1100m Maiden Handicap at home on March 28.
“He was always going to be better as a three-year-old,” he said.
Alabama State has vindicated his trainer since returning, winning first-up at Hawkesbury on August 22 before two unlucky performances (fourth and second at Rosehill on September 14 and 28 over 1200m and 1300m) before posting his first city win in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) there on October 12.
“Alabama State has done really well since that race,” Pilkington said.
“He had a few days away on the water walker and in the paddock at Bella Jane Lodge at North Richmond, and had his final gallop at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning.
“The Four Pillars won’t be an easy race to win with a capacity field (Alabama State drew barrier 22, but will come into 18 if the four emergencies do not secure starts).
“But we’re there with a good chance and, if things go our way, hopefully we can win.
“Provided Alabama State runs well and pulls up well, I will take him to the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on November 16 for his final assignment this campaign.
“To be honest, I would be more confident of him winning the Spring Stakes against his own age at set weights in most probably a smaller field.”
. HOOFNOTE: Pilkington was quick off the mark to book Hawkesbury apprentice Zac Wadick for The Four Pillars Midway before he won at Rosehill on October 12.
It was a smart move as Wadick’s 3kg claim will lessen the colt’s weight to 55.5kg.
Pilkington and Wadick are no strangers either.
“Whilst I was working for Mark Newnham at Warwick Farm, a 16yo Zac Wadick was part of the team,” Pilkington recalled.
“It would be terrific if we could win this race together on Saturday.”
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