Horse Racing

PIKE TIMING AGAIN ON SHOW 

“What is wrong with William Pike?”  was a question one punter asked after the second race.

When asked to explain what he meant by that comment the impish reply was that Pike had not ridden a winner at that stage!

The words spoken in jest were all premature.

In both the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) on Red Ora, and the following race, the Challenge Stakes (1500m), on Neverland, the champion rider managed his customary double, seemingly common place.

Red Ora has now won all five of his starts and passed his biggest test with flying colours, finishing too powerfully for Fire Born and Rommel.

The result was a great one for Mt Barker breeder Gray Williamson who is one of the owners of the first two horses.

Trainer Dan Morton said that he was worried about his rising star's position on the turn.

“He needed to get out from the fence and when he did he got over them,” Morton said.

Pike confessed that he was “absolutely worried,” at that stage but could not resist the quip, “one day he will really win something when he matures.” Red Ora was sixth on the turn before being extricated by his jockey for a succesful dash at the leaders.

Pike is not the only one enjoying a great ride on Red Ora as the horse has a legion of owners and followers with connections to the Leavers class of 1975 at Aquinas College. More than a few of them were sporting bright red jackets with Red Ora caps.

Many of them are first time owners and as Gray Williamson said, “Red Ora was supposed to be a fun horse around which the group would go to tracks like Albany and Geraldton to have social functions. They are now complaining that they haven’t got further than Ascot!”

Morton said the son of Due Sasso would now be heading for a spell.

Pike’s double came in a stirring finish to the Challenge Stakes when he landed the Grant Williams trained Neverland a narrow winner over Palace Intruder (Joseph Azzopardi). The winners stablemate, Delicacy (Peter Hall), was also in the tight battle, finishing third.

Pike was pushed out on the home turn by Azzopardi but nevertheless he kept Neverland balanced for the run home. Hall looked set to win on Delicacy, when he  skipped his charge clear in the home straight, but he was caught by the other pair right on the post.

Neverland is not a robust filly and Williams, and owners Bob and Sandra Peters, have not pushed her in her races.

 By the Kentucky Derby winner, Big Brown, she remains undefeated after three races.