3 minute read
Garry White says he sees a lot of today’s Hawkesbury winner Alvin The Bold’s ill-fated dam in him, and is confident more wins are in store.
Alvin The Bold ($2.15 favorite), who easily won the Evergreen Turf Maiden Handicap (1500m) at only his fourth start, is the last foal of Hurricane Sky mare Bold Horizon, who died in September, 2019.
"She had unbelievable ability, but was never able to realise her potential because of a serious wind problem," White recalled this evening.
"I had Bold Horizon early and we sent her to John Hawkes, who won her with her on debut (at Canterbury in February, 2004).
"She had only two more starts and failed to finish in her last race at Canterbury later that year and was retired.
"You could have dropped a bomb around her at the stable, and it wouldn't have bothered her.
"There's a lot of her in this bloke (Alvin The Bold). He is very unenthusiastic around the stable, and you would 't judge him on his trackwork.
"Thankfully, he is a racehorse and goes to a different level.
"He's still got little idea what he's doing, and I'm sure he will eventually manage 2000m.
"Whilst he probably didn't beat much today, it was still a good win and there is a lot more improvement in him."
Jockey Brenton Avdulla took bad luck out of the equation, sooling White's three-year-old along from his inside draw to eventually take over the running from Angela Sistina ($7).
Though not racing truly down the running, he was never in any danger and had more than two and a half lengths to spare from Galierro ($4.40) and another local, Mitch and Desiree Kearney's Carlisle Bay ($11).
There was mixed news for the stable as Alvin The Bold's stablemate Bye Bye Charlie ($26) refused to jump when the gates opened.
RacingNSW stewards deemed he took no competitive part, and ordered him to barrier trial to their satisfaction before being permitted to race again.
. White is tossing up whether to chase another city win with his in-form stayer Brown Thomas at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, or wait and have a crack at next Thursday's $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).
Brown Thomas, who has won three of his last five starts including the Orange Cup (April 16) and Benchmark 72 Handicaps at Warwick Farm (May 12 and June 14), has drawn the outside in a field of 14 for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).
He is also one of 20 entries for Grafton's feature staying event.
"Saturday's race has come up a lot stronger than I thought it might," White said.
"I'll weigh up the pros and cons, and make up my mind which way to head.
"If I decide to go to Grafton, we'll float Brown Thomas up early Thursday morning and Mathew Cahill will ride him."
Whilst Rachel King has partnered the gelding in his two recent Warwick Farm victories, she cannot ride at the Grafton carnival under the current COVID restrictions, and Cahill was aboard in his runaway Orange Cup (2100m) success.
