Whittingham’s Next Bright Hope?

The brightest hope in the Charlie Whittingham stable after the stunning retirement to stud of Sunday Silence may be Excavate, a massive 2-year-old chestnut nearing his debut.

Excavate, the son of Mr. Prospector--Anne Campbell and a half brother to Desert Wine, cost $1.1 million as a Keeneland yearling. He is owned by Arthur Hancock, a co-owner of Sunday Silence, and Jimmy Hilton.

Excavate worked five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Del Mar last week.