West Aussies will have extra reason to tune into the Melbourne Cup this Tuesday when homegrown champion William Pike has his date with destiny in the race that stops the nation.
Pike has been a familiar name in form guides for more than two decades but has never ridden better than present, conquering the nation’s best race last weekend when landing the Cox Plate aboard fellow sandgroper, Cosmic Crusader.
The 40-year-old will be only one of two West Australians in this year’s Cup, joining back-to-back victor Mark Zahra at Flemington’s start line.
Zahra will partner Middle Earth ($15), an English-bred galloper who has called Australia home for two years.
All the fancies – Point Of Law ($6.50 favourite), Trustyourinstinct ($8) and Hopewell Rock ($9.50) — hail from the northern hemisphere, meaning Pike and his mount Zakouma ($26) will carry the weight of the nation against an international onslaught.
Amid a glittering trophy cabinet, featuring 12 WATC Derbies, six Railway Stakes and five Perth cups, last weekend’s victory aboard Cosmic Crusader was Pike’s finest hour.
One previous ride in the 3200m cup aboard Steel Prince – who finished 16th in 2020 – no doubt fuelled the Wizard’s fire to claim Australia’s proudest race and would springboard his career to even dreamier heights.
The journeyman jockey has staged an unconventional route to the cup, voyaging to Northam on Thursday afternoon where he rode three winners — naturally.
“I’ve done the fitness runs during this week. I thought I better stay fit for the cups coming up,” he said.
Earlier this spring carnival, the mounted maestro drew the ire of Eastern States critics who said he would not measure up to local Victorian jockeys, and he was branded a FIFO pilot.
That attitude has quickly changed over the spring and after his watershed win in the Cox Plate, he has a full book of nine rides at Flemington’s Derby Day on Saturday.
Bob Peters, owner of Cosmic Crusader, has been a staunch defender of Pike since first entrusting him with steers when he was “about 16”.
“These things happen and we just get on with it. Nobody gets it right all the time,” Peters said.
“But once they’ve seen what he’s done, they’ve all come running (to book him for rides).”
Saturday will be Pike’s final stop before the Cup when he rides Cignetti in the Victoria Derby, while Mark Zahra will partner Vallice with both horses rated $13 chances in the 2500m Group 1.
Zahra, a derby day hero when saluting in four consecutive races last year, has endured a less-than-ideal preparation for this year’s Flemington carnival having been injured in a race fall in the Caulfield Cup.
“I was angry,” Zahra, 44, said.
“I thought it was going to run really well, and I had some cracking dinner reservations that night, but I had to spend it in hospital.
“It’s no issue for me. I’m looking forward to getting back on a horse. I can’t wait.
“It was a blessing now. I’m going to have a busy week, so I need to be 100 per cent.”
Zahra won the 2022 and 2023 Cups with Gold Trip and Without A Fight and jockeys are entitled to 5 per cent of prizemoney in the $10 million race.
Jess Glynne will light up the stage this weekend before Robbie Williams entertains the Melbourne Cup crowd.
Vanessa Amorosi and FISHER will conclude the cup carnival with performances on Oaks and Champion Stakes Day, respectively.
In Perth, a bumper crowd is expected to soak up the atmosphere at Ascot for Burgess Queen Stakes Day following from last weekend’s successful Irish Day.
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