Pike steers Casino Seventeen to thrilling G2 Perth Cup win

Posted by RS NewsWire at 10:02pm on January 1st

Casino Seventeen may have been the punters’ pick but it took every ounce of champion jockey William Pike’s skill and determination to land Western Australia’s feature cup.

In customary fashion, Pike pushed the six-year-old to the lead as the field entered the Ascot home straight and looked like the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) was in his keeping before a fast finishing Be Optimistic ($8.50), ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter, rattled home to miss by a nose margin in the $1 million event with consistent performer Demolish ($26) in third.

Fresh from suspension, Pike admitted that he was itching to return to the saddle as watching cricket, doing odd jobs around the house, nor playing video games could fill the winning void.

“This was always his target race,” Pike said.

“For a race that looked like it would be smooth and a lot of speed, it was there early but it wasn’t in the middle stages.

“I kept losing my spot and was making excuses up in my mind but in the end, I had a really good run from probably the 700 (metre mark) onwards.

“I pulled the trigger too early though (and) hit the big red panic button. Very lucky.

“I had a good horse and a good set of trainers to back me up.”

While Casino Seventeen ($2.70 betting site favourite) gave Pike a fourth Perth Cup – his first back in 2005 – it was a fifth victory in the race for training partners Grant and Alana Williams.

“He is the GOAT in my eyes,” Grant said of Pike.

Dodging more lucrative races through the preparation has played into the team’s hands and before the handicapper.

“This has been 12 months in the making,” Grant added.

“We were able to get here on the minimum (weight, 53-kilos) and if we didn’t have that we might have got beaten.

“The preparation has gone so well I was waiting for something to go wrong but it hasn’t.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th