William Pike adds to glittering record
Champion jockey William Pike added another milestone to his glittering career record after the completion of the 2023-24 season at Belmont on Wednesday.
Pike ended the season with a flourish, booting home a treble on Another Love, Made In Mexico and Wayne The Pain, to reach 107.5 metropolitan winners, 14.5 clear of Chris Parnham.
Despite being sidelined for three months with a broken heel in January, Pike won his 14th Perth Jockey Premiership and reclaimed his ranking as Australia’s leading rider.
Pike took out 14 black-type races including the Group 2 Perth Cup on Casino Seventeen, his fourth win following Crown Prosecutor, Real Love and Mississippi Delta.
Pike won the National Jockey’s Premiership with 175.5 winners, defeating James Orman (162), Damian Lane (156), Chris Parnham (155) and Blake Shinn (144).
It was Pike’s seventh Australian title and first since the 2021-22 season with 189 winners.
Pike rode in 686 races in 2023-24, going at 25.70% and totaling $8,927,908.00 in prizemoney.
Behind Pike and Parnham in the Perth battle was Clint Johnston-Porter (68), Brad Parnham (63) and Steven Parnham (35).
Madi Derrick was Leading Perth Apprentice with 33.5 wins. Luke Campbell (27) was next followed by Laqdar Ramoly (21) and Brayden Gaerth (19).
In the WA Trainer’s title, Grant and Alana Williams came out on top, preparing 63 winners as a partnership, eleven ahead of runner-up Neville Parnham with Simon Miller third.
Keshi Boom, Villeins, Casino Seventeen, Yonga Lass, Buckets Ridge, Petrouchka and Western Empire leading their stakes charge.
Casino Seventeen gave the Williams team a fifth Perth Cup after Western Jewel, Delicacy, Mississippi Delta and Midnight Blue.
With 108 overall winners, the Williams’ finished 12th behind Ciaron Maher in the Australian Trainer’s Premiership.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...