PREMIER Western Australian jockey William Pike, renowned for getting punters out of trouble in the last race in Perth most Saturdays, will ride at Warrnambool's May Racing Carnival.
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Tabcorp, which is the naming rights sponsor of the famous carnival, has lured Pike across the Nullarbor to ride at the three-day showcase.
Pike, 32, has a massive cult following among punters across Australia.
He has ridden more than 2300 winners, including seven group one victories, all in Perth, and rode his first winner at the age of 14.
Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Nick Rule on Friday confirmed to The Standard Pike would ride.
“We’ve got to thank Tabcorp for getting William Pike to ride at the carnival,” Rule said.
“It’s a massive coup to have such a high-profile jockey at the carnival.
"We’ve got to thank Tabcorp for its wonderful on-going support and ensuring Warrnambool is such an iconic three-day racing carnival in Australia.”
Pike is no stranger to the Warrnambool carnival.
The son of a miner, Pike rode two winners at the 2007 carnival when he answered the call from Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing to take his first rides out of Western Australia.
In the past, race-caller Ric McIntosh had a catch phrase for Warrnambool punters “back Weir, drink beer”.
His new one this year may be “back Pike, drink what you like".
Pike has been booked for seven rides at Flemington on Saturday. He rides Graff in the $1.25 million Newmarket Handicap and So Si Bon in the $1.5 million Australian Cup.
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