PILKINGTON'S STATE OF PLAY WITH "ALABAMA"

THURSDAY: September 25, 2025: TO use Jack Pilkington’s own words, it’s been a “crap year” with his stable flag-bearer Alabama State.

But the Hawkesbury trainer is hoping his talented four-year-old will put a smile back on both he and his connections’ faces by resuming with a Rosehill Gardens victory on Saturday.

Alabama State, a three-times winner but not successful in nearly 12 months, returns as a gelding in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

Pilkington accepted with Alabama State in both the Midway and Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m), drew the same barrier (two) in both, and opted for the former.

Alabama State showed great promise last year, scoring twice at his home track and also in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in October.

He also finished fourth from a horror draw in the $500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill, and filled the same position in the $250,000 Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle when a $2.80 favorite.

Pilkington pulled the pin on the then colt’s campaign after he finished 10^th in his home track’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) in May.

“A muscular problem was restricting Alabama State from extending in his races when he needed to,” he explained.

“Even though he is a gentleman, we made the decision to geld him for longevity in his career.”

However, there were dramas during Alabama State’s time away from the racetrack.

“He got colic a couple of times and also became impaled on a star picket in the paddock,” Pilkington said.

“Fortunately, it was behind the elbow, so things could have been so much worse.

“Thankfully, we’ve had a trouble free run with him since.”

Pilkington has given Alabama State two trials for his first start as a four-year-old, and says he is hoping he can win.

“We haven’t let him off the bridle at all,” he said.

“The idea has been to keep him a happy horse and let him get fit, rather than pushing him to get fit.

“He ran in much stronger races last preparation (two Listed events and a Group 3), so it’s nice to get him back into his own grade.

“I know he’s a good horse, and has the ability to make his way through the grades as a gelding.”

Alabama State has 59.5kg topweight, and will be ridden by Jason Collett, who knows him well.

He has been aboard in three races, and won on him twice.