3 minute read
William Pike has landed his first Saturday metropolitan success since moving to Sydney.
He was renowned as the jockey to back in the last race in Perth, but William Pike has proven he is just as capable of getting punters off to the right start with a brilliant come-from-behind ride in the opening race at Randwick.
The West Australian relocated to Sydney in mid-February due to COVID vaccination mandates in his home state and his win aboard Shelby Sixtysix in Saturday's Highway Handicap (1000m) was his first in Saturday city grade since his move.
The star hoop had been knocking on the door with three second placings last weekend, including a narrow defeat aboard Hilal in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and a runner-up finish aboard Shelby Sixtysix in the Highway seven days ago.
Pike was thrilled to get the monkey off his back and said the Danny Williams-trained gelding handled the heavy 10 conditions with aplomb.
"Great wasn't it," Pike said.
"He is a beautiful ride. He makes my life very easy.
"I was struggling a little bit for speed, but it gave me the opportunity to drop in behind them, slowly work my way to the outside and he's got a nice turn of foot on him, this bloke."
Williams saddled up three runners and they finished first, third and fourth with Shelby Sixtysix ($3.10 fav) scoring by 1-1/2 lengths over the Matthew Dale-trained Devils Triangle ($4.40) with Prince Nicconi ($13) third and Brazen Impact ($10) fourth.
The decision to start Shelby Sixtysix on a seven-day back-up despite a distance drop from 1400m to 1000m proved a masterstroke from Williams, who realised Sydney was set for a drenching this week and banked on his charge's race fitness and liking for rain-affected tracks.
"Straight after the race the other day, I looked at the weather forecast and they were forecasting this rain event. I said to my manager, nominate that horse and get William Pike," Williams said.
"He is such a gross horse, every time I gallop him something goes wrong with him so we just race him. We don't do much with him in between and is a very versatile horse, he can run 1000 or he can run a mile.
"He just hasn't had a lot of luck but he is very consistent."
He was renowned as the jockey to back in the last race in Perth, but William Pike has proven he is just as capable of getting punters off to the right start with a brilliant come-from-behind ride in the opening race at Randwick.
The West Australian relocated to Sydney in mid-February due to COVID vaccination mandates in his home state and his win aboard Shelby Sixtysix in Saturday's Highway Handicap (1000m) was his first in Saturday city grade since his move.
The star hoop had been knocking on the door with three second placings last weekend, including a narrow defeat aboard Hilal in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and a runner-up finish aboard Shelby Sixtysix in the Highway seven days ago.
Pike was thrilled to get the monkey off his back and said the Danny Williams-trained gelding handled the heavy 10 conditions with aplomb.
"Great wasn't it," Pike said.
"He is a beautiful ride. He makes my life very easy.
"I was struggling a little bit for speed, but it gave me the opportunity to drop in behind them, slowly work my way to the outside and he's got a nice turn of foot on him, this bloke."
Williams saddled up three runners and they finished first, third and fourth with Shelby Sixtysix ($3.10 fav) scoring by 1-1/2 lengths over the Matthew Dale-trained Devils Triangle ($4.40) with Prince Nicconi ($13) third and Brazen Impact ($10) fourth.
The decision to start Shelby Sixtysix on a seven-day back-up despite a distance drop from 1400m to 1000m proved a masterstroke from Williams, who realised Sydney was set for a drenching this week and banked on his charge's race fitness and liking for rain-affected tracks.
"Straight after the race the other day, I looked at the weather forecast and they were forecasting this rain event. I said to my manager, nominate that horse and get William Pike," Williams said.
"He is such a gross horse, every time I gallop him something goes wrong with him so we just race him. We don't do much with him in between and is a very versatile horse, he can run 1000 or he can run a mile.
"He just hasn't had a lot of luck but he is very consistent."
Shelby Sixtysix and Willie Pike go one better in the Highway on the 7 day back up at @aus_turf_club.
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2022
Meanwhile, @GoulburnTrainer trains 3 of the first 4 across the line! pic.twitter.com/6tiGjTGqy1
