PIKE SET TO CONTINUE HIS SPLENDID SUMMER

By Graham Potter | Monday, December 29, 2025

Who would argue with Willie Pike about his ride selection?

Not many … and why would you go against the choice of a rider who so often casts his spell over big race proceedings in a manner which has him living up to his title of The Wizard.

Yet again, the fifteen-time Western Australian Premiership and eight-time Australian Jockey Premiership winner has already enjoyed a stellar summer season, winning, amongst others, the $1.5 million Group 1 Railway Stakes, the $500 000 Group 2 WA Guineas, the $300 000 Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes and the $1.5 million Group 3 Gold Rush … and that is without even going to his multiple Listed race successes.

Pike won all of those races on different horses where, for the most part, he would have had the pick of rides … Watch Me Rock (Railway Stakes), King Of Light (WA Guineas), Apulia (Van Heemst) Rey Magnerio (Gold Rush) … and this time Pike sticks hard and fast with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Apulia going into the $1 million Group 2 Perth Cup, with Apulia currently being ruling favourite race favourite.

Three-and-a-half weeks ago, when Pike was having a rare dismal day out aboard King Of Light in the Northerly Stakes, Apulia wasn’t having a much better day in the same race. Both horses finished well down the field soundly beaten out of the placings.

Two weeks later, it was a very different story when Pike gave Apulia his vote of confidence by taking the ride on the seemingly ready to improve Apulia in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes.

Apulia duly improved. Pike delivered from the saddle and Apulia put that Van Heemst win notch on his belt … and now they will go again in the Perth Cup.

There is a task awaiting them in terms of weight carried with Apulia having been allocated 58.5kg which he will have to carry over the 2400m trip.

The last horse to carry more than 56.5kg to victory in the Perth Cup was Delicacy who scored under the steadying burden of 59kg back in 2016.

Three out of the last four Perth Cup winners have carried 53kg.

Pike gave his view of that area of possible concern.

“The weight scale, in general, is a lot higher this year than in years gone by,” said Pike, talking to Perth Racing.

“Since the race changed from 3200 metres to 2400 metres in 2009, the scale has become a lot more forgiving.”

The Wizard has spoken.

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