Champion Pike puts on clinic

Champion Perth jockey William Pike and Karnup trainer Grant Williams paired up for two wins and two seconds in a dominant display at the Bunbury Turf Club on Thursday.

The duo opened their account in the $11,000 Tabtouch Maiden (1200m) when three-year-old filly Gold Glow ($2) was beaten by a length by Alan Matthews-trained mare Thread Lock ($9) with Rip The Lid Off ($16) rounding out the top three.

Guiding New Zealand filly Highly Secret ($5), it was more of the same in the next race for Pike, who was narrowly beaten to the line by favourite My Destination ($3.20) in the $11,000 South West Autumn Racing Carnival Maiden (1690m).

The pair’s fortunes improved in the very next race, Blackfriars-sired gelding Ultimate Success ($2.25) charging home from ninth at the turn to beat Pure Hustle ($11) and Saxon’s Patch ($9) in the $17,500 Bayside Beats Friday March 14 Handicap (2019m).

Pike was saluting again after the final race of the day, coming from deep in the field at the turn, this time aboard favourite Real Love ($4.60) in the $15,000 Sportsman’s Luncheon and Bunbury Cup Calcutta Handicap (1410m).

The promising three-year-old filly jumped poorly from barrier one and settled ninth.

She had moved up to seventh by the turn and showed impressive closing speed to eventually win by half a length from consistent Bunbury performer Henny Shaker ($7) and Whatever Trevor ($6.50).

Pike also added a further second aboard Meesha Logan three-year-old Saxy Filly ($6.50) behind He or She ($1.95) in the $11,000 WA Country Builders Maiden (1200m) and a third jockeying Rebecca Nairn’s Abesha ($2.50) who lost by two lengths to Simon Foster’s Big Caroline ($5) in the $11,000 Legends Bar and Bistro Maiden (1200m).

Pike placed in each of his six rides, finishing with two firsts, three seconds and a third.

Next race meeting at Bunbury is Sunday 2 March.