Rangipo on rails from Raghu in centre and Get That Jive
Trish Dunell
Tony Pike's master plan for his stable's attack on the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby is playing out perfectly.
While the Cambridge trainer has been around horses for too long to take anything for granted, recent events have significantly boosted spirits ahead of the March 5 feature.
At Ellerslie last Thursday, the gifted but green filly Provocative pressed her classic claims with an impressive victory against the older horses and at Te Rapa on Saturday her stablemates Rangipo and Raghu also returned outstanding trials by quinellaing the Gr.2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas.
"There's still four weeks to go and a lot of water to go under the bridge yet though," Pike said.
"Provocative pulled up well after her race and she trotted up this morning and was free in her action so it looks like we'll have three in the Avondale Guineas."
Rangipo and Raghu were locked together at the end of the Te Rapa contest and Pike initially thought the latter had got the bob in, but it was an obvious win-win situation for him.
"It was a great race and both of them were strong to the line after doing a bit of work," he said.
"They're on target for the Derby - super runs from both of them."
Rangipo is the first horse Pike has trained for prominent owners John and Margaret Thompson, who bred the son of Stryker.
"They weren't here when he won the Great Northern Guineas so it's a great result, but I honestly thought the second horse had won."
Pike wasn't the only one – Rangipo's rider Vinnie Colgan also thought he had missed out.
"Raghu headed me at the 100 and I thought I'd missed out on the nod," Colgan said. "I had to ride him forward from the wide barrier and he's pretty tough. If he relaxes he should go 2400 metres."
Get That Jive was a close third and he is now the new Derby favourite at $7.50 ahead of Rangipo at $8. Provocative is rated a $9.50 hope and Raghu is at $16.
While the Cambridge trainer has been around horses for too long to take anything for granted, recent events have significantly boosted spirits ahead of the March 5 feature.
At Ellerslie last Thursday, the gifted but green filly Provocative pressed her classic claims with an impressive victory against the older horses and at Te Rapa on Saturday her stablemates Rangipo and Raghu also returned outstanding trials by quinellaing the Gr.2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas.
"There's still four weeks to go and a lot of water to go under the bridge yet though," Pike said.
"Provocative pulled up well after her race and she trotted up this morning and was free in her action so it looks like we'll have three in the Avondale Guineas."
Rangipo and Raghu were locked together at the end of the Te Rapa contest and Pike initially thought the latter had got the bob in, but it was an obvious win-win situation for him.
"It was a great race and both of them were strong to the line after doing a bit of work," he said.
"They're on target for the Derby - super runs from both of them."
Rangipo is the first horse Pike has trained for prominent owners John and Margaret Thompson, who bred the son of Stryker.
"They weren't here when he won the Great Northern Guineas so it's a great result, but I honestly thought the second horse had won."
Pike wasn't the only one – Rangipo's rider Vinnie Colgan also thought he had missed out.
"Raghu headed me at the 100 and I thought I'd missed out on the nod," Colgan said. "I had to ride him forward from the wide barrier and he's pretty tough. If he relaxes he should go 2400 metres."
Get That Jive was a close third and he is now the new Derby favourite at $7.50 ahead of Rangipo at $8. Provocative is rated a $9.50 hope and Raghu is at $16.