PIKE BACK IN G1 WINNER'S CIRCLE ON WATCH ME ROCK

Top Perth jockey lands his sixth Railway Stakes for trainers Grant and Alana Williams

- Sharon Zhang

It has been three years since Perth champion jockey William Pike recorded his last Group 1 success.

Nicknamed “The Wizard” for his ability to extract the best out of his mounts, Pike booted home race favourite Watch Me Rock in the A$1.5 million (S$1.26 million) Group 1 Railway Stakes (1,600m) for trainers Grant and Alana Williams at Ascot on Nov 22.

Before that, Pike - who claimed his 15th Perth Jockey Premiership title in August - last won the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1,600m) aboard Sheeza Belter on June ll, 2022, which came a week after his only other Group 1 triumph that year with Gypsy Goddess in the Queensland Oaks (2,200m) on June 4.

He heaved a sigh of relief after Watch Me Rock took out Perth’s sixth Railway Stakes’ victory.

Pike previously won on Elite Belle (2014), Galaxy Star (2018), Regal Power (2019), Inspirational Girl (2020) and Western Empire (2021), all for the Williams.

“I suppose at this stage of my career, I judge myself on how I perform in the big races,” said Pike.

“It’s been a few years since I won aGroup 1. I find it hard to say you’re the best if you don’t win in Group Is, so it’s the best this weekend.”

After settling the son of Awesome Rock in third outside stablemate and 2021 winner Western Empire (Billy Egan), Pike waited patiently behind leader Comfort lahvant (Tash Faithfull).