William Pike to again be absent from WA punters’ form guides as he favours Melbourne big race opportunity

William Pike will once more be absent from WA punters’ form guides this Saturday as The Wizard places his faith in Apulia to land the Group 1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. Pike, who rode the entire to back-to-back victories in Ascot’s Van Heemst Stakes and Perth Cup three months ago, has travelled to Victoria for three of the last five Saturday metropolitan cards but is yet to taste success. However, he remains upbeat that he can trade fortunes in this weekend’s Australian Cup when he rekindles his relationship with Apulia. In two starts this preparation, the bay has finished fifth in the Blamey Stakes when ridden by Michael Dee and then again chased home Birdman when second in the Peter Young Stakes under Luke Currie. “His runs have been fantastic, the way he keeps finding the line,” Pike told SEN. “First-up, it looked like he might have been out on his feet, and then he still found the line. “I know Birdman was very impressive last start when they met, but he was still very good through the line, Apulia. “I’m in a very lucky position to have such a live chance in a good race, so I’m really looking forward to it. “Hoping to reunite and repay everyone’s faith in bringing me over.” Birdman is the $3 favourite for the cup ahead of Tom Kitten ($4.60), Pride Of Jenni ($5.50), Apulia ($6.50) and Sabaj ($8). Pike’s dominance over the local scene has never been more pronounced, including a recent Saturday fixture where he partnered the pre-post favourite in all 10 races. But it coincides with his hunger to attend Eastern States meetings, saying he wants to continue to try his luck on the seaboard. “It all depends on opportunities,” he said. “It’s very fast-paced over there, so if you’re not amongst the thick of it, you get left behind real quick. “It’s just been very good opportunities at this moment, so it’s worked well. I would like to keep trying my hand at it, but I’ve got to make sure I keep those opportunities coming. “That means I’ve got to hit the scoreboard sooner rather than later.” The champion jockey rode Rey Magnerio to a sixth-place finish in the William Reid Stakes last weekend en route to next month’s Quokka at Ascot, for which he’s a $6 chance behind Caballus ($4f), Jigsaw ($5.50) and Smooth Chino ($5.50). “I’m not entirely sure if it’s been penned out with the manager as a commitment, but that was the whole point of going over and riding him the other day; to make sure that I was happy with him and he was on track,” Pike said. “It was a really good run heading to a Quokka, so it didn’t dent my confidence at all. “He is my leading contender.”