Perth’s number one jockey William Pike will stick with three year old Disposition in the Group 1 $500,000 TAB Touch – Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Moriarty remains the favourite for the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Pike is the regular rider for stablemates Disposition and Elite Belle and it was thought he would stick with the latter after winning the Group 1 $1m Carlton Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 22 on the Bob Peters owned, Grant Williams trained mare.
But the huge weight advantage that the three year olds have at weight for age influenced Pike’s decision who will now stay with Disposition following their second to Rommel in the Group 2 $400,000 Sky Racing-W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on the same day as the Railway Stakes.
As a six year old mare Elite Belle will have to carry 57kg while Disposition only has 52kgs on his back.
Peters also races Disposition and was happy for Pike to make his own choice between the two top Kingston Town Classic chances.
“We discussed it and William’s thinking is the weight difference will help Disposition,” Bob Peters told The West Australian.
“But under weight-for-age the horses carry the weight they should be carrying for their age.
“It was hard for William and he thought it would worry us, but we were quite happy for him to make his own choice.”
Disposition will be sporting the blinkers for the first time after his second in the W.A. Guineas but Peters said that it didn’t seem to make any difference when he wore then in track work during the week.
“He worked in the blinkers this week, but it made no difference,” Peters said.
“He has got very laid back in his races and we just thought he needed the blinkers to wake him up.”
Local jockey Peter Hall will take over reins from Pike and will be having his first ride on Elite Belle.
Jockey Steve Parhnam was in the same situation as Pike and had to choose between two of his regular rides, last year’s Kingston Town Classic winner Ihtsahymn and last start W.A. Giuneas winner Rommel.
Parhnam chose the three year old Rommel for the same reason Pike chose Disposition, the weight advantage, with Paul Harvey picking up the ride on Ihtsahymn.
The Chris Waller trained Moriarty with top international jockey Douglas Whyte to ride remains at the top of the Kingston Town Classic market order at $4.20 ahead of Elite Belle and Disposition, both marked at $6.50.
Next in the betting is the Railway Stakes runner up Balmont Girl at $7.50 with Rommel marked at $9 in front of the Gai Waterhouse trained Pheidon and fourth emergency Real Love at $12.
