Breeding & Racing Magazine

Pike Sets New Australian Rider Benchmark

The wizard of the west has eclipsed his own Australian record for the number of wins in a season by a jockey. William Pike started the day at Belmont Park in Perth needing one victory to equal his mark set last year, but managed a double to take the new record to 235 or a little over four-and-a-half a week assuming he rode every week. Fittingly, after winning aboard Truly Great in Race 5, he guided home the Bob Peters-owned Inspirational Girl in Race 8. The cerise and white-crossed silks of Peters have become synonymous with Pike’s success, including in this year’s All-Star Mile at Flemington (see below). According to punters.com, Pike’s winning strike rate is a herculean 28%; no other top 10 Australian jockey is above the 20% mark. The 235 benchmark may not be the final seasonal tally for Pike who is riding at Belmont on Wednesday and Northam on Thursday.