Pike Hoping Golden Run To Continue In Kalgoorlie Cup

Posted on September 23, 2016 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Champion jockey William Pike is poised to cap a sensational seven days in the saddle when he combines with hot favourite, Falcon Crest, in the XXXX-Gold Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) on Sunday.

Pike rode an astonishing six winners at Kalgoorlie on Thursday, including his first success in the Hannans Handicap when he lifted Socially Unique to a narrow victory in the Listed feature.

Pike’s personal best haul on the goldfields followed a bag of five winners at Belmont Park last Saturday, the second time in as many weeks that the 30-year-old supremo has booted home a quintet of winners.

Pike has high hopes Falcon Crest can extend his golden run. The emerging stayer has discovered a real zest and appetite for racing since teaming up with in-form co-trainers, Grant and Alana Williams, earlier this year.

He is unbeaten in four starts this campaign and secured a berth in the Kalgoorlie Cup when he finished powerfully to defeat Material Man by a long-head at Belmont Park two weeks ago, his first at 2100m.

Pike, who led the Australian jockey tally for metropolitan and overall winners last season, said Falcon Crest had the runs on the board and deserved the opportunity of claiming his first feature race success.

“He has been in good form and going through the grades,” Pike said on TAB Radio’s The Sports Daily.

“He has been asked the question, but I think he is more than up to it.

“Having a horse in form heading into these races is a big asset.

“He deserves to have a go at a race like this and will be thundering home.”

Falcon Crest has drawn ideally in barrier seven. The son of Musket is all the rage with punters, holding TAB favouritism at $2.60.