Giant steps in the right direction

Big Albert shed his niggling maiden status at just his fourth start at Goulburn on Friday, rewarding his trainer’s patience and hard held belief that the big track and trip ‘over the mile’ would be key to the gelding’s success.

“I knew he was always looking for the mile and we were looking for the big track with him so being well placed here we got the result we were after” commented David Pfieffer.

A robust bay who befits the stereotype of the gentle giant more than an elite athlete, Big Albert ambled from the barriers and jockey Jay Ford elected to settle his mount second last, a good six lengths from the leader and odds-on favourite Zoltar.

Knowing the son of Magic Albert had plenty in his tank and was hard fit, Ford stalked the leading bunch as the field panned into the straight, having made enough ground to be sitting just three lengths off the leader at the 400m mark.

Zoltar appeared to be full of running and untouched by jockey Matthew Dale, but once Big Albert had balanced and was asked for the final effort, the race was on. Improving his position as he wound up over the concluding stages, Big Albert finished far superior to his rival over the final 200m and was able to draw away at the end with room to spare.

“Once he got balanced up and got himself going he really hit the line well” said Pfieffer.

“His last furlong (200m) at Kembla (Grange) last time out was his best work to date so I knew he would be strong to the finish”.

Big Albert’s previous effort showed he had begun to put things together as a late blooming 3yo. Still raw with natural ability and with lots to learn, the gelding almost appeared shy in his racing style which saw his first two starts end in unplaced efforts.

Not to be deterred, Pfieffer chose patience over the paddock, and on the first day of June that patience certainly paid off with an $11,360 prize cheque awarded to a buzzing group of owners.

“Today marks the first day that Racing NSW offers $20,000 prize money for country race meetings so it’s ideal to have a winner” said Pfieffer.

The win will surely instill confidence in Big Albert as he develops into the strong and rhythmic racehorse that Pfieffer envisioned when purchasing him as a ready to run 2yo.

“The key thing with this horse is confidence, to keep racing this way and putting himself in the finish, so we need to find the right races for him.

“He’s only a 3yo and you can see he is a big animal so will benefit from time and experience. He is one to watch going forward”.

Jockey Jay Ford shared similar sentiments when dismounting, almost standing on tip-toes to unsaddle.

“Obviously he’s a horse who is continuing to improve every start” Ford said.

“He settled very nicely at the back and we were able to get on the back of the right horse and then give him clear running...he had horses to chase and it showed in the last furlong where he really attacked the line”.

The win was dominant enough, as the first two home gapped the field by five lengths at the finish.

“He’s a nice horse heading forward. He will keep improving and I think he will turn into a nice little stayer in the future”.

“Well” he added, with a wry smile, “a nice big stayer”.

Click here to view his win in the Goulburn Produce Maiden Plate.