Premiership-leading trainer Troy Kilgower dominated the Alexandra Cup last Saturday, with recent stable acquisitions running first and second.
Six-year-old Rebel Dane gelding Rebillyous had won a couple of races for Sharyn Trolove before joining Kilgower in February, kicking off with a strong win over 1230m at Hinnomunjie on March 7 before backing up last Saturday and taking out the 1540-metre feature at Alexandra by a length.
Closest to him at the finish was another ex-Trolove runner, the maiden-winning Shamus Award mare Littlebirdie, who improved on a couple of unplaced runs for his new trainer to post a career peak. Tough-as-teak veteran Anything But finished third in his seventh picnic cup run for the season.
Leigh, Rob split points
Leigh Taylor kept up his good form in the saddle last Saturday, sharing riding honours with Rob Kirkpatrick, each riding a double.
Taylor took the Alexandra Cup as well as the maiden with young So You Think gelding Slippery Thinker, who was having his fourth start and his first since November.
Kirkpatrick rode an early double for wife Shelley, winning the first on Patrick, another son of So You Think, and the second on Ilovethiscity gelding Springer Time.
Pride prevails
The cup winner wasn’t the only horse to back up from a win at Hinnomunjie a week earlier and get the job done again, with Brooke Verwey-Mitchell’s Magnus mare Peintre’s Pride following suit.
The six-year-old gave rider Rowan Cox his 10th winner for the season. For her trainer it was win number six on the circuit for the season to go with 11 minor placings.
Ron’s on a roll
Seymour trainer Ron Hockley is enjoying a great run, with his eight-year-old gelding Some Eclipse winning the last at Alexandra and giving him his sixth winner for the season.
The son of Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner Free Eagle extended his love affair with the track, bringing up his third win at Alexandra from five visits.
Some Eclipse last won in April 2025, at Alexandra, and his prior win was there in October 2024. He won his maiden at Yea in April 2024.
Hockley’s six wins for the season have come with five different horses. Lord Chapel won at Mansfield and Woolamai, on the same days Not Fake (Mansfield) and Morisu Dori (Woolamai) also tasted victory. Mahra won a maiden at Dederang.
The picnic season is drawing to a close, with Woolamai and Healesville hosting the next two meetings followed by four meetings in April.