“You underestimate her, over 1800 metres, at your own peril,” was how trainer Colin Webster summed up Pop Culture’s win in the Ascot Gold Cup, yesterday. Starting at the lucrative odds of $31 it was the quality mare’s second win in the Ascot Gold Cup, emulating her 2012 performance. Troy Turner had Pop Culture racing [...]
“I was a bit worried at the top of the straight,” said laconic jockey William Pike. “So was I,” said an equally laconic owner, Bob Peters. That was the brief conversation between WA’s most successful owner and the top jockey as Pike moved to the scales, after bringing home smart colt Disposition an impressive winner [...]
William Pike was surely over optimistic in protesting on Macrawfy's Hope (fifth) against third placed Deb's Delight (Lucy Warwick), in the third race won by Magnus Missile (Chris Parnham). Warwick came along the rails and her mount was clearly going to the line better than Pike's mount. While Warwick did come out on her charge [...]
Most punters thought trainer Jim Taylor had a stranglehold on the Group III Prince of Wales Stakes (1200m) with boom gallopers Barakey and Magnifisio. However it was the Grant Williams trained Elite Belle that rained on the parade with Taylor’s pair finishing in second and fourth respectively. Barakey made the pace, after taking over from [...]
“Racing is full of politics” was trainer Darren McAuliffe’s comment moments after his promising galloper was a comfortable winner of the Group III Northerly Stakes (1400m) with Fuchsia Bandana at Ascot yesterday. McAuliffe was referring to top jockey William Pike “jumping off the horse” and electing to ride the Grant Williams trained Respondent (fourth). Jarrad [...]