Further cup hopes held for veteran

Little Alfie Brown posted the biggest win of his career two seasons ago and owner-trainer Peter Blick has hopes of a repeat performance this year with his sprightly veteran.

The 11-year-old was back in the winning groove at Te Rapa on Saturday when he claimed the Pencarrow Stud Handicap, his first success since he posted a boilover victory in the 2013 Listed Feilding Gold Cup at odds of 54-1.

“We’ll just keep going with him and potter along,” Blick said. “We won’t get too carried away, but the way he won there may be more in him yet – it would be nice to get another Feilding Cup.”

While it has between a long time between drinks for Little Alfie Brown, he did finish runner-up in his defence of the Awapuni feature last season and also placed in the Listed Rotorua Plate and the Cornwall Handicap.

“He’s come back nicely and he’s a lovely old horse,” said Blick, who will be happy for the horse to answer the question of retirement. “He’ll tell me when it’s time.”

Little Alfie Brown enjoyed a sweet run in the trail behind Kate McQueen before jockey Mark Hills eased off the rail to hit the front 200 metres from home.

“It was a beautiful ride from Mark, he couldn’t have ridden him any better,” Blick said.

With a four kilo pull in the weights, Little Alfie Brown was too strong for Pump Up the Volume in the run to the post.

“He jumped well and put himself in the race and the best place to be was on the rail,” Hills said.