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2019 WA Derby - Regal Powers Home For Pike

3 minute read

A late arriving William Pike has landed the 2019 WA Derby aboard Regal Power, handing owner Bob Peters a record ninth win in the race.

The win was a ninth Derby for owner Bob Peters and it was an eight for jockey William Pike who now stands alone having surpassed the seven WA Derby wins of WA Hall-of-Fame hoop Frank “Tiger” Moore.

Pike's famous timing was on show with Regal Power, who was sent out at prohibitive odds of $1.40, racing towards the tail of the field and looking in desperate trouble as they balanced up for home.

Pike stayed calm, balanced up the son of Pierro and brother of last year's winner Action, and delivered the knockout blow in the final strides to the gasps of the crowd.

"I just had to make sure I didn't do anything silly and get him unbalanced," said Pike.

"I thought he would get there. But then I started to calculate how many extra lengths he had covered on top of what all the others had done, but I did ask him to stay in the clear so he did that," said Peters.

"He was good today. He has been very unlucky in a lot of his early races, we were riding him for luck and the luck didn't come. He got caught up and caught up but if you look at his record, I think it's five or six stakes race he has run a place in, and now he has won a couple."

Comparisons to last year's winner, and brother, Action are inevitable and Peters was more than happy to cast his vote in favour of this year's model.

"I think this fellow is a bit better than Action. We will worry about where he goes later. We will see how he pulls up and he will tell us where he is. But he's a good sound horse."

It's been a great season for Peters who adds the Derby to the Railway, Kingston Town and Perth Cup.

"I'd say it would be our best season, yes, but we did get beaten in the Winterbottom - I didn't like that!"


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