Chief White Sock looking for more Alice Springs success

[Wandering Eyes]

Red Centre trainer Barry Cooke has Chief White Sock in fine form this campaign. (Picture: Nikki Westover Photography)

With the Alice Springs Turf Club hosting its final meeting for 2024 on Saturday, the form guide suggests that the Barry Cooke-trained Chief White Sock is one to keep an eye on.

The five-year-old gelding has notched two wins and two minor placings since returning from a spell in October, and online bookmakers have him as an early $2 favourite to salute in 0-58 company over 1000m this weekend.

That form marks a stark change of fortune for Chief White Sock, who had stints in Victoria with the Hawkes team and in New South Wales with Mark Jones before heading north.

He had three starts at Pioneer Park and featured on Tennant Creek Cup Day during May and June and flopped, with his rating slipping to 46.

Regardless of whether it took time to adapt to his new surrounds, adjust to the dirt surface, or Cooke devised a new training strategy, Chief White Sock found his mojo after three months in the paddock.

“He was a bit dusty when he got here, he was behind the eight ball,” Cooke said.

“He had a break, I did a bit more ground work with him without the saddle to get him going and he sort of just clicked.

“He’s been going alright ever since and pulled up alright after his last start, but this will be his last run this weekend.”

It’s tipped to be 41C on Saturday, but Cooke has faith in his horse despite lumping 58.5kg and drawing barrier seven in the eight-horse field.

With the Alice Springs Cup Carnival starting in March, Cooke has eyed The Soldier Lightning (1000m) with Chief White Sock.

“I’m playing it by ear, the Lightning is an open handicap and at the moment Chief White Sock only has a rating of 55,” Cooke said.

“His times and the way he has been running, he’s telling me he’s capable of going through the grades.”

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