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
All-Star Mile next for Sabaj following blood test setback
Sabaj, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, faces a puzzling field in the All-Star Mile with Pride Of Jenni taking part.Saturday's All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington is now the primary target for Sabaj, who skipped last week's Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington due to unsatisfactory blood...
Baraqiel to trial blinkers for Newmarket Handicap push
Baraqiel faces an uphill battle with the weights in pursuit of success in one of the nation's premier short-distance contests, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Post-1973 metric weight implementation, merely three runners have prevailed in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) carrying more than 57.5kg, with the race set for Saturday.In...
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...