3 minute read

Group One performer Sacred Master is heading back to a familiar environment.

The well-performed six-year-old is about to report for duty at the Cambridge yard of Tony Pike after a successful stint with champion Australian trainer Chris Waller.

“He’s been in pre-training for six weeks and is due back here shortly,” Pike said.

“He won’t be ready for the Auckland Cup so we’ll look to give him a couple of runs here a bit later and there’s a chance he could go to Brisbane for the Queensland carnival.”

Sacred Master won six races, including the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m), and finished third in the 2016 edition of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) before he joined Waller’s operation.

The son of Mastercraftsman won the Gr.3 Newcastle Cup (2300m), finished runner-up in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) and ran fourth in the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m) during his time in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Pike is confident of a vastly improved showing from his smart three-year-old Ever Loyal in Saturday’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

The Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter was a less than even money favourite when beaten into fourth last time out after over-racing outside of the leader.

“We probably should have let him stride along,” he said. “He just pulled himself into the ground.

“If there’s no pace on in the Karaka Mile then we’ll let him roll to the front. We’ll go back to the Norton bit and if he relaxes he’s a big chance.”

Ever Loyal has won two of his seven starts, including the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m).