3 minute read

Trainer Tony Pike unleashed another eye-catching youngster from his Cambridge-based team when two-year-old filly Subpoena delivered a winning performance on debut at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Just a fortnight after Pike’s Darci Brahma filly Kali commenced her career with a stunning win at Hastings, Subpoena  showed she is another not to be overlooked in the late season juvenile ranks as she stormed home to claim victory over 1200m.

Although successful at the Avondale trials earlier in the month, the Rip Van Winkle youngster was overlooked by punters who sent out two-race winner and Gr.2 Matamata Breeder’s Stakes runner-up Rainbow Dash as a hot favourite in the contest.

With the early pace set up by another debutant in Quiz Kid, Rainbow Dash settled on his flank with Subpoena allowed to find her feet by rider Leith Innes in midfield. 

Innes brought Subpoena into the race on the point of the home turn as he chased up the leading pair before cruising past them at the 150m to record a comfortable length and half victory from Rainbow Dash who managed to head off Quiz Kind in the final few strides.

“She’s a beautiful scopey type of filly,” Pike said afterwards.

“I thought the 1200m might be a bit sharp as she is going to get better over further.

“Leith trialled both her and Kali at Matamata and couldn’t split them, so we knew she was pretty talented coming into today.

“It was a good field today as the second horse has won twice and is very smart so she (Subpoena) has a nice future ahead of her, especially as a three-year-old over further.” 

Pike will take a ‘wait and see’ approach with the filly although he does have a leaning towards trying her in black-type company at Ellerslie next month.

“We mentioned if she won today, and won well, that we might look at the Futurity (Listed 1400m) at Ellerslie,” he said.

“She will tell us that going forward but she looks like a really nice, potential staying filly as a three-year-old.”

While Pike kicked off his day at Te Rapa with the victory he was also keen to see how members of his team for the Brisbane winter carnival were progressing as undertook several exhibition gallops during the meeting.

Pike will send a six-member squad across the Tasman on Friday with quality sprinters Bostonian and Ever Loyal heading the team along with exciting three-year-old filly, Intrigue.

Pike also indicated that speedy juvenile Whiskey Neat would resume in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa next Saturday after a comfortable win over 800m at the Te Teko trials on Friday.