Pike springs a surprise
Ryan Hill shoots Western Gem, outside, past Stellular to win at Bunbury on Melbourne Cup day earlier this month. Picture: Hollands Photographics
Premier jockey William Pike believes Western Gem can step from the shadow of her high- profile stablemate Arcadia Rose in tomorrow's Group 3 Skyy Vodka WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m).
Pike raised eyebrows when he jumped off Arcadia Rose to ride Western Gem at their initial clash in the $200,000 feature.
Pike has ridden Arcadia Rose in her three wins, including last month's Belgravia Stakes (1200m), and also partnered her to a fourth behind Miss Rose De Lago in the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago.
The TAB yesterday opened Miss Rose De Lago the $2.60 favourite to complete the three-year-old fillies' double, with Arcadia Rose and Via Laurentina on the next line of betting at $4.80.
Balmont Girl ($9) and Western Gem ($9.50) were the only other runners in single figures.
Apprentice Chris Parnham, who last week registered his 100th career winner when scoring on Moonlight Bay in the Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) for owners Bob and Sandra Peters, rides Arcadia Rose.
Western Gem's half-sister Western Jewel won the December, 2011 Perth Cup (2400m).
"I wasn't as happy with Arcadia Rose's run at her last start as the run before," Pike said. "With the fillies stepping up to the mile, I picked this filly.
"If it was at 1200, I'd go Arcadia Rose every time."
Pike rode Western Gem at her debut win over 1100m at Northam in June.
Ryan Hill deputised, with Pike riding at Ascot, when she won first-up over 1200m at Bunbury on Melbourne Cup day to keep intact an unblemished record.
Pike is also striving to book Elite Belle a berth in tomorrow week's $1 million Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m), when she steps up in class in the RJ Peters Stakes (1500m).
The winner of the $125,000 Group 3 race is exempt from the Railway ballot.
For nine of the 13 runners - Vermeer, Rohan, Elite Belle, Fanicio, Keepers Court, Luke's Luck, Pop Culture, Rebelson, and Red Blast - the Peters is their ticket into WA's premier race.
"She is a horse on the up and she'll give them an awful lot of cheek," Pike said.
"She has a very good turn of foot when you can ride her how you would like.
"I don't see the step up in class as being a big challenge."
WATC Derby winner Rohan opened the $4 favourite to improve on his minor placings in the Northerly Stakes and Asian Beau Stakes.
·Stewards have reduced Lucas Camilleri's careless riding suspension by three days to allow him to return on Super Saturday.
"I wasn't as happy with Arcadia Rose's run at her last start as the run before."" *William Pike *
