Pike Jets East for Melbourne Autumn Rides

Gun Perth jockey William Pike is all-but on a flight to Melbourne so that he can qualify for big-ticket rides at Caulfield on Saturday-week. According to thewest.com.au, Pike is slated to have the pick of the rides for owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters having finished the spring carnival in Melbourne with considerable success. Expected to depart either on Thursday or Friday in order to meet in-bound COVID-19 protocols, some of Pike’s choice mounts are Arcadia Queen (Gr1 Futurity), Celebrity Queen (Gr1 Oakleigh Plate) and Perfect Jewel (Gr3 Mannerism Stakes). The decision doesn’t come without a cost as Pike will forfeit riding at Ascot in Perth on Saturday where he was booked to ride Western Empire (also potentially-Melbourne-bound subject to Saturday’s performance) in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1500m). Pike will still be able to ride in WA on Thursday ahead of a departure.

Arcadia Queen is among Pike's rides at Caulfield next week (pic: Steve Hart)