Kiwis soar at Eagle Farm
A great day for Kiwi horses at Eagle Farm yesterday was capped off when the Tony Pike-trained Provocative ran away with the Queensland Oaks.
The Zabeel 3-year-old was super impressive in downing a classy field to give Pike his second winner of the day after 2-year-old Sacred Elixir destroyed his rivals in the JJ Atkins.
The trio of Kiwi wins was kicked off when the Adrian and Harry Bull-trained Benzini won the Brisbane Cup.
It was Pike’s day though with the Cambridge trainer scoring a Group One double with his up-andcoming stable stars.
‘‘Two Group I wins in Australia and the old bloke [Sacred Star] ran fifth in the Stradbroke, it doesn’t get much better,’’ Pike said
Sacred Elixir gave the Aussies plenty to contemplate with his stunning Group I win in front of 20,000-plus fans.
The handsome Tony Piketrained 2-year-old powered away with the J.J. Atkins (1600m) in the hands of international jockey Zac Purton.
His rich pedigree suggests that classic races in the spring will be the banquet owners Raffles Thoroughbred Racing seek.
Pike has already considered the prospect and will send the youngster to Victoria for a spell with the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby, won last spring by New Zealand-bred Tarzino, on his mind
‘‘That’s been the long term plan with him,’’ Pike said. ‘‘He’s got a stayer’s pedigree, he’s out of Horlicks’ family, there’s Melbourne Cup winners and he’s by an English Derby winner.
‘‘The VRC Derby is a good long term target for him, he’s going to excel when he gets to 2000 metres.’’
Sacred Elixir was bred by Graham De Gruchy, who owned and bred the champion mare Horlicks who is Sacred Elixir’s third dam.
Pike knew from day one that he had a serious horse on his hands.
He intended to test him as a juvenile despite the fact he was aware the horse had plenty of maturing to do.
Outstanding efforts, including a win at Ellerslie, encouraged connections to push on to the Karaka Million in which he ran sixth.
A break led to his Queensland campaign bringing a win on the Sunshine Coast and a booming sixth in the Sires’ Produce two weeks ago which pushed him into second favourite in the J J Atkins.
New Zealand owners Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker grabbed second in the Queensland Derby with the Chris Wallertrained Rodrico finishing behind Eagle Way.
A son of High Chaparral, Rodrico was a $235,000 Karaka buy while the partner’s Oaks contender Provocative cost $250,000.
They were celebrating after their Zabeel filly donkey-licked her Oaks rivals and justified the faith Pike has always had in her.
It was touch and go whether she would gain a lace in the field but a scratching confirmed her spot and her ability.
She sneaked into the Oaks field and it’s only her seventh or eighth start, she can only get better,’’ Pike said.
Jockey Leith Innes gave her a great ride from her wide draw.
‘‘We had a little bit of luck in the race and got a nice drag into the race,’’ Innes said.
‘‘Tony Pike will be shouting tonight.’’
Although Pike stole the limelight, Rosie Myers created her own bit of history when she rode Benzini to victory in the Brisbane Cup.
‘‘I’m so honoured to have the ride,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m excited to ride against these top riders and to win is special.
‘‘The Bull family [trainers Adrian and Harry] have been so loyal to me.’’
Myers became the first woman to ride the winner of the Brisbane Cup.
Michelle Payne rewrote the record books when she became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup last year aboard Prince Of Penzance and Myers joined the exclusive club by winning the Brisbane Cup.
The Bull father and son farmers train a few horses and their outstanding horsemanship was on show for all to see.
‘‘It’s a huge thrill,’’ son Harry said after the A$300,000 win with the Tale Of The Cat gelding. ‘‘We only have seven in work. We’re farmers by trade so it’s huge for us.’’