West Australian champion jockey William Pike’s career continues to soar to unmatched heights

Champion WA jockey William Pike’s impact on national racing continues to soar and his stellar career is unmatched by Perth-based riders. A $5 million All-Stars Mile winner in Melbourne early this year, he was the toast of Victoria’s spring carnival after four Caulfield wins on October 10. He rode a Group 1 double that day on Arcadia Queen (Caulfield Stakes) and Ole Kirk (Caulfield Guineas). SEE THE LIST OF WA RACING'S TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE HERE Pike, who broke his own Australian jockeys’ seasonal wins record in 2019-20, attracts a massive following which focusses unprecedented year-round interstate racing attention on WA. When Pike headed the national jockeys’ premiership with 239 wins last season, he finished 96 clear of runner-up Jye McNeil, the subsequent Melbourne Cup winning rider. Known as The Wizard, Pike has notched 12 Perth riders’ premierships, a record nine WATC Derby victories and is in line for a Railway Stakes winning hat-trick when aboard Inspirational Girl in tomorrow’s $1 million Ascot gem. The 34-year-old has won 2626 races, including rich Hong Kong and Singapore feature events. But Pike does not plan a full-time pursuit of Melbourne, Sydney or overseas racing glamour. “I’m very content with life here in WA,” Pike said. “I’m a family man who likes nothing more than pottering around our farm when not at the races.” Pike and his partner, former jockey Jessica Valas, are also busy with activities of their son Jett and daughter Aspen. Leading trainers would ensure Pike was in big demand at interstate tracks after his 22 Victorian spring wins. In addition to victories on Bob and Sandra Peters-owned stars, co-trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Pike formed a highly successful link with the Hawkes family’s powerful stable. Riding for co-trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, he won the Danehill Stakes (Doubtland), Schillaci Stakes (Dirty Work) and Red Roses Stakes (Written Beauty) in addition to their Caulfield Guineas triumph with Ole Kirk. “I was determined to prove myself at the highest level in Melbourne’s spring carnival,” Pike said. “But I never saw my success as a path to becoming established on the East Coast. “If the right opportunities were offered, I could go back over to ride for a while next autumn, particularly if the Peters team was racing there. “It would be good to also tackle Sydney and pick up a Golden Slipper mount, but that all depends on my commitments to Peters-owned horses.” Pike’s love of farm life was illustrated by his approach to two weeks’ COVID-19 quarantine after returning from Melbourne on November 5. “I’ve been out fixing fences around our property,” he said. “Some fallen tree branches had to be moved off fence lines. “To keep fit, I’ve also done a bit of running on the farm.” Never forgetting the early days of his racing career, Pike keeps in contact with veteran former trainer Jack Cockell. Cockell took Pike on as an apprentice in 2000 and taught him racing skills. “We regularly chat by phone,” Pike said. “He’s a great advisor to me on racing and life in general.” Pike was raised in Coolgardie and often rode ponies through bushland, but he had no link to racing and planned on working at local mines. His uncle Arthur Pike, a friend of Cockell, recommended that the slightly built William should consider race riding. William, then aged 14, accompanied his uncle to the Mundijong property where Cockell trained gallopers that were mostly country prospects. “I had never been to a race meeting before travelling with the Boss,” Pike said. “We took horses to a two-day Meekatharra fixture and camped out. I liked the racing scene and decided it was for me.” Pike rode his first winner Carry A Gun at Norseman on March 9, 2002, a week after making a race riding debut at Esperance. He went on to score wins at Port Hedland, Roebourne, Onslow, Newman, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra and Pingrup. The apprentice began to get established in Perth racing when winning aboard Fair Alert at Belmont Park on August 30, 2003. He was booked to claim 3kg off the gelding’s 61kg handicap. Pike vividly recalls becoming associated with Bob and Sandra Peters. He won the Supremacy Stakes for them on Local Legend ($7) at Ascot in March, 2004. “I thought they would put a more experienced rider on Local Legend,” Pike said. “But they had faith in me and it was my first Listed win.” The Peters-Pike combination was sealed when he scored a 2005 Perth Cup win for the owners on Crown Prosecutor. Pike has since won Perth Cups on Real Love and Mississippi Delta in the Peters colours. Elite Belle gave the Peters-Pike team a 2014 Railway Stakes win ahead of their Railway victories in the past two years with Galaxy Star and Regal Power. Perfect Reflection and Arcadia Queen have delivered them Kingston Town Classic triumphs. Seven of Pike’s nine WATC Derby winners and three of his five WA Oaks victors have been on three-year-olds owned by the Peters family. Pike’s All-Star Mile win on Regal Power in the Peters colours at Caulfield last March was the launching pad for a top Melbourne spring carnival campaign by the owners and jockey. They won Victorian spring races with Arcadia Queen, Showmanship, Windstorm and Perfect Jewel.