Leading Perth jockey William Pike showed why he is the best in the west with a brilliant ride on Galaxy Star to win the 2018 Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth last Saturday.
Damian Lane, above, was aboard runner up Gatting in the 2018 Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Pike had to settle Galaxy Star near the tail of the field after the $2.90 favourite was a little slow to leave the barriers and looked to have plenty of work to do to get the Grant and Alana Williams trained mare to the post first.
Pike bided his time until heads were turned for home and then miraculously appeared in the clear down the middle of the track and reeled in the leaders effortlessly to record a one and three quarter lengths win over Gatting ($13) with Material Man ($9) a close up third.
“Willie’s that good at what he does, I could see what he was doing,” Grant Williams said.
“They were all worried about getting off the rails because of Wrinkly (the leader).
“They were all out wide and he just chanced his hand and trusted the mare. It was just a great ride.”
Pike wasn’t as confident as Williams during the run and had already started to memorise his luckless losing ride excuses on the short priced favourite, but fortunately he didn’t have to.
“I was terrified in the run and I was starting to go through my excuses,” Pike said.
“I had to make the best of a bad situation and I followed Gatting and then the gap came.
“She was at her peak today. She was primed for this.”
Galaxy Star was the third winner of the Railway Stakes for Western Australia’s biggest owner Bob Peters and his cerise and white colours were also carried to victory by Elite Belle in 2014 and Old Comrade in 2001.
“This is definitely the hardest race in this state to win,” Bob Peters told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“This is the race we have aimed for ever since she was foaled and we have looked after her.”
Galaxy Star will now try to score back to back Group 1 wins over the Ascot Summer Racing Carnival and has been installed the $4.40 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on December 8.
