Pike steers Casino Seventeen to thrilling G2 Perth Cup win
Casino Seventeen may have been the punters’ pick but it took every ounce of champion jockey William Pike’s skill and determination to land Western Australia’s feature cup.
In customary fashion, Pike pushed the six-year-old to the lead as the field entered the Ascot home straight and looked like the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) was in his keeping before a fast finishing Be Optimistic ($8.50), ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter, rattled home to miss by a nose margin in the $1 million event with consistent performer Demolish ($26) in third.
Fresh from suspension, Pike admitted that he was itching to return to the saddle as watching cricket, doing odd jobs around the house, nor playing video games could fill the winning void.
“This was always his target race,” Pike said.
“For a race that looked like it would be smooth and a lot of speed, it was there early but it wasn’t in the middle stages.
“I kept losing my spot and was making excuses up in my mind but in the end, I had a really good run from probably the 700 (metre mark) onwards.
“I pulled the trigger too early though (and) hit the big red panic button. Very lucky.
“I had a good horse and a good set of trainers to back me up.”
While Casino Seventeen ($2.70 betting site favourite) gave Pike a fourth Perth Cup – his first back in 2005 – it was a fifth victory in the race for training partners Grant and Alana Williams.
“He is the GOAT in my eyes,” Grant said of Pike.
Dodging more lucrative races through the preparation has played into the team’s hands and before the handicapper.
“This has been 12 months in the making,” Grant added.
“We were able to get here on the minimum (weight, 53-kilos) and if we didn’t have that we might have got beaten.
“The preparation has gone so well I was waiting for something to go wrong but it hasn’t.”
More Racing News
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...
War Machine back in winning form at Caulfield
A great deal has transpired for War Machine over the past twelve months.On the equivalent weekend last year, the horse trained by Ben, Will, and Jd Hayes, War Machine, was competing in Sydney for The Everest.While the results didn't align with the Lindsay Park trainers' aspirations, War Machine had entered...
Saintly Dancer's Thousand Guineas triumph highlights Shinn's comeback
Jockey Blake Shinn has celebrated his first Group 1 win since recovering from a significant leg injury, as Saintly Dancer dictated terms from the front to capture the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.Shinn endured a fractured leg from a fall during last year's Melbourne Cup and made his return to competitive...