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Australian Racing News
Tuesday, June 04 2019

Tony Pike is daring to dream of history being written on Saturday, when he saddles The Bostonian in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Based at Cambridge, Pike couldn't have asked for much more than what has transpired with his star sprinter since arriving in Queensland for what looked on paper to be an ambitious campaign.

Now with the prize of both Group 1 sprint races so far, the Doomben 10,000 and the Kingsford-Smith Cup, the Kiwi horseman is eyeing the feature trifecta of the Queensland Carnival, an achievement no horse has accomplished before.

"It's history in the making if he can get the three…it would be great if he could get the treble," Pike said at Eagle Farm on Tuesday.

"Hopefully we get a nice, kind barrier tomorrow (on Wednesday) and he's going to be in the race for a long way.

"I can't fault his work this morning, and Michael (Cahill) was very happy with him.

"He's loving it over here.

"He's obviously holding his form super as he did last year."

While the dual Group 1 winner must now suffer at the weights under the handicap conditions, Pike dismissed any suggestions The Bostonian may have peaked already and is confident his recent racing at the elite level in Queensland will only be of benefit.

"He does hold his form very well throughout a preparation," Pike explained.

"He had a hold up in his preparation over here (in Australia) last year so we were forced to run him three times in 20 days and he won all three.

"He's just thrived since he's been here and I really can't fault him at all."

Pike will also be represented in the Stradbroke Handicap by Endless Drama, who made an eye-catching start to the Queensland Carnival when finishing sixth, beaten 1.75 lengths, by his stablemate in the Kingsford-Smith Cup.

"I've definitely got a good second stringer (in Endless Drama)," said Pike.

"(In the Kingsford-Smith Cup) we didn't have any option from the barrier but to go all the way back to last.

"We knew the fence was probably the place to be and he got held up a touch on straightening but he did close the race off very well, and good past the post as well.

"He drops to 54 kilograms and his work this morning was outstanding.

"That was fresh-up as well, after a short let-up, so he'll strip a lot fitter on Saturday."

Posted by: AT 07:19 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
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