Pike To Launch Melbourne Superstorm
Top Perth hoop William Pike goes to Melbourne for the second week in succession full of optimism that Superstorm can cause a major upset in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Pike holds firm belief that Superstorm has the ability to win a Group 1 race, but for the gun jockey, owner Bob Peters and co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams, that assessment will be tested as early as this weekend.
The son of Sebring, a full sister to stakes-winning filly, Mikimoto, flashed raw potential on home soil last year, but will have to elevate and rise to another level to upset a cracking Guineas line-up in his Melbourne debut.
Superstorm is having his second shot at the top tier of racing after running a creditable fourth to Kay Cee in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot last December, storming home from the back of the field to break 34 secs for the final 600m.
While Australian Guineas rivals Alligator Blood and Catalyst fought out a titanic struggle in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15, back in Perth Superstorm returned to win the Listed Challenge Stakes (1500m) in comfortable style at Ascot.
The two length win over Naughty By Nature confirmed to Peters and the Williams combination that Superstorm had done enough to warrant a trip to Melbourne.
Pike is adamant Superstorm is a horse on the rise.
“He definitely has untapped ability,” Pike said on Tabradio.
“We’ve just been waiting for him to put it all together and be the full package.
“I think the trip away may have helped mature him.
“He is showing signs of giving away some of his idiosyncrasies and has come forward.
“He hasn’t gone backwards and is looking the goods.
“He will need to be on his toes because it’s a ripping field.
“We’re going to have a good run I think and let’s see if we can’t scare some of these big guns.”
Superstorm is rated a $15 chance with Tabtouch. In a field of eight starters he has drawn barrier seven.
Catalyst is the $2.50 favourite, ahead of his last-start conqueror, Alligator Blood ($3.20).
Chenier, third in the Hayes Stakes is at $6.50 with Alabama Express at $7.
Pike said he found it hard to separate Alligator Blood and Catalyst as major threats to Superstorm.
“To tell you the truth I don’t know,” Pike said.
“You can’t deny Alligator Blood who held them off.
“But they say Catalyst might also have needed the run.
“Which will beat who home I don’t know.
“Hopefully I beat the pair of them home.”
Julio Santarelli