Written by Paul Vettise
Tony Pike is hoping he can turn his Australian fortunes around on Saturday, although that doesn’t translate to the Cambridge trainer feeling confident of a victory in Sydney.
Far from it in fact, but he’ll settle for a pass mark from the talented 3-year-old Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) when he steps out in esteemed company in the G1 Rosehill Guineas.
“The Derby is the main aim and we’ve got no great idea about beating The Autumn Sun at the weekend,” Pike said.
Surely Sacred
“He’s the best 3-year-old seen in Australia for a few years. If we can hit the line well and run top three or four we’ll be very happy and then press on to the Derby.”
“The Derby is the main aim and we’ve got no great idea about beating The Autumn Sun at the weekend.” - Tony Pike.
Pike’s last runner in Sydney was Ever Loyal (Sebring), a Group 1 performer last season, but his stay was cut short after he trailed in sixth of eight following a torrid run in the G3 Liverpool City Cup earlier this month.
“That was just a total disaster. He got caught wide so it was a non-event,” Pike said. “He needed to run in the top three to carry on toward a couple more races we had planned.
“We brought him home for 10 days in the paddock and we’ll get him ready for Brisbane.”
Pike has a lot of faith in Ever Loyal, the winner of three of his 11 starts and third in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas after claiming the Zacinto S. on his way toward the Classic, and is regarded as a possible G1 Stradbroke H. contender later in the year.
“We brought him home for 10 days in the paddock and we’ll get him ready for Brisbane.” – Tony Pike.
He is from the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Special (Habituate {Ire}) and Bomber Bill (Air de France {USA}).
Ever Loyal winning at Ellerslie
Offered at Karaka by Lyndhurst Farm, Ever Loyal was secured for NZ$240,000 and was initially raced by Hong Kong interests before he was purchased by former Magic Millions part-owner Rob Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Surely Sacred enjoyed a smooth flight to Sydney on Monday and has settled in well to his new surroundings.
“He travelled brilliantly and had a light trot and canter on Tuesday morning,” Pike said.
“The Derby run was a pretty torrid one, but he came through it well.” - Tony Pike.
Surely Sacred won the G2 Avondale Guineas to earn favouritism for the G1 New Zealand Derby and got a long way back before improving wide and closing gamely for fifth.
“The Derby run was a pretty torrid one, but he came through it well,” Pike said.
“He’s got a really good constitution and attitude. We hummed and haahed a bit about going over, but he galloped well so we’ve decided to have a crack.”
Surely Sacred was bought out Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka by Raffles Racing for NZ$160,000 and hails from a family that Pike knows well.
His dam Not Sure (NZ) (Masterclass {USA}) also produced the G3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and she’s the mother of Pike’s 2016 G1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Surely Sacred was a $160,000 yearling
