Double delight for Cambridge stable

4 min read
Tony Pike’s young guns fired winning shots early in the programme at Ellerslie to give the Cambridge trainer a running black-type double with a pair of quality performers.

First on parade was the front-running juvenile Whiskey Neat (Denman), who made all in front and stayed on strongly to win the G3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse S. and retain his perfect record.

He was followed by Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) who delivered a heavenly display to land the G2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas, drawing serious attention to his future.

Successful on debut and then runner-up in the G3 Bonecrusher S., he came from the clouds under rider Leith Innes to knock off his age group rivals with ease.

“Obviously from the outside gate we were always going to go back.” - Tony Pike

“Once Leith got him into the clear he showed a great turn of foot and he’s a very exciting horse going forward," said Tony Pike.

Familiar family

Pike said he will now sit down with owners Raffles Racing, who secured the colt from Waikato Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale for $160,000, to discuss Surely Sacred’s next port of call.

“I’d say it will be the Karaka Million with the big stake up and we’d be leaning that way.”

Pike knows Surely Sacred’s family well, having prepared Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) to win the G1 Queensland Oaks and is hopeful his current rising star can make the Classic grade.

“He’s out of Provocative’s family so there’s a bit of staying blood there.” - Tony Pike.

“He’s out of Provocative’s family so there’s a bit of staying blood there. Hopefully this bloke can get out to a Derby trip,” he said.

Innes bided his time at the tail-end of the field and ,once he drew widest on straightening, Surely Sacred tore into his work and powered home to sail past the pacemaker Cantstopthefeeling (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

Surely Sacred

Quality Whiskey for Pike

The 2-year-old event was billed pre-contest as a match race between the unbeaten trio of Whiskey Neat (Denman), Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) and Exuberant (NZ) (Savabeel), but it was the Pike representative who earned the golden boy tag on the day.

Untouched to win on debut at Otaki by 10 lengths, Whisky Neat will now be right at the top of Karaka Million betting when the market opens on Wednesday morning.

“He’s very relaxed and he’s got a great attitude for a 2-year-old, he wouldn’t be out of place in a 3-year-old race.” - Tony Pike

“He’s very relaxed and he’s got a great attitude for a 2-year-old, he wouldn’t be out of place in a 3-year-old race,” Pike said.

“There is a lot of natural improvement in him and he came up here to Ellerslie for a gallop to have a look around.”

The benefit of that scouting mission stood Whiskey Neat in good stead as he was taken on for a lot of the way by Shampagne Dancer (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) before that runner cried enough.

Too big, too strong

The handsome Whiskey Neat kicked into the straight and, despite veering away from the rail in the closing 50 metres, he was too strong.

“He got quite lost and changed leg a couple of times,” Pike said. “He did a fair bit wrong and he’s only going to get better.”

With regard to the forthcoming 2-year-old feature on January 26, the stable got exactly the answer it was searching for.

Whiskey Neat pictured as a yearling

“He needed to win if he’s going to be a chance to win the Karaka Million and he’ll go straight in now,” Pike said.

“We’re looking forward to three and a-half weeks’ time and he won’t need to do too much.

“We’ll keep him ticking over, he’s the leading light at the moment.” - Tony Pike

“We’ll keep him ticking over, he’s the leading light at the moment. If they open up the course proper he might come back here for another gallop.”

The youngster has been ridden in both of his race-day appearances and in a trial win by Innes.

“He got softened up the whole race and they had their chance to get past him,” he said. “He’s such a big, gross horse and Tony knows what to do with him.”

Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) settled at the tail of the field and he did his Karaka Million chances no harm with a stout finish for second with Exuberant (NZ) (Savabeel) battling on for third after racing in third spot.

Whiskey Neat was bred by bloodstock agent Andrew Williams and sold as a weanling for $72,500 from the Newgate draft at the Magic Millions National Sale.

He was secured by Koru Thoroughbreds who pinhooked him for $220,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, purchased by Waikato Bloodstock.