Casino Seventeen won the Perth Cup for William Pike and Grant and Alana Williams. The six-year-old defeated the fast-finishing Be Optimistic with Demolish third.
From the draft of Widden Stud, Casino Seventeen was a $9,000 purchase from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He now has reached $1.1 in prizemoney.
Casino Seventeen started favourite and gave Pike his fourth Perth Cup trophy and for the Williams’ team it was their fifth victory in the iconic race.
La Trice Classic
Earlier on the New Year’s Day card, the Pike and Williams combination claimed the La Trice Classic, courtesy of Yonga Lass.
Posting her first stakes success, the four-year-old mare finished powerfully to run over the top Fine Touch and Forever Dreaming.
It was an emotional victory for owner-breeder Ian O’Connor who paid tribute to the late Rob Harvey Jr following the win.
O’Connor and Harvey, who passed away in 2022, were great mates and bred Yonga Lass, previously trained by Harvey’s son, Todd.
Yonga Lass was named after Harvey’s first winner as a jockey: Yonga Lad.
Summer Scorcher
Ridden by apprentice Keshaw Dhurun, Ghost Who Walks charged home to win the Summer Scorcher.
Trainer Neville Parnham set Ghost Who Walks for the Summer Scorcher after bypassing the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes.
Dhurun won his second feature race on Ghost Who Walks, his declared favourite horse, following the Beaufine Stakes last July.
January 5, 2024
Esperance
David Harrison trained a treble: Bondi Bubbles, Cousin Nicci and Hot Puddin.
January 6, 2024
Ascot
A Family affair for the Fiore’s!
Fledgling trainer Brandon Fiore celebrated his first Saturday city win when Filthy Habits, ridden by his partner, Lucy, got up to beat Here For Cheques in a close tussle. Four races later, the husband and wife partnership were back in the winners’ stall with I Love Your Smile.
Ironhorse, Let’s Galahvant, from the Dan and Ben Pearce yard, won the Easingwold Stakes.
Chris Parnham rode a treble: London’s Image, Eee Pee Cee and Let’s Galahvant.
January 7, 2024
Bunbury
William Pike, Chris Parnham and Clint Johnston-Porter landed doubles, the later with trainer Adam Durrant.
January 13, 2024
Ascot
Heat policy rules out Ascot meeting.
January 14, 2024
Albany
Supersession, ridden by William Pike and trained by Adam Durrant, thunders home to win the Tabtouch-Fitzpatrick Plate by a long-head from Beau Zoom. Resonator third.
January 17, 2024
Pinjarra
Brilliant speedster Wild Belle takes out the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes. Pike in the saddle and hot trainer Luke Fernie preparing.
Gemma’s Son and Real Danger second and third respectively.
January 20, 2024
Ascot
Champion jockey William Pike ruled out of the meeting and for multiple weeks after breaking his heel in an accident at home.
Meryl Hayley’s Cheval de Vaga withstands Ace Command in the $100,000 Celebration Of Life Day Trophy.
January 24, 2024
Belmont
Shaun McGruddy charged with verbal assault by stewards following an incident past the post in race five.
January 25, 2024
Geraldton
Four winners to Troy Turner and three in combination with trainer Glen Cortes: Sparkle Corner, I’m On (Cowl Jr), Dream To Me and The Slap.
January 26, 2024
Bunbury
Chris Parnham boots home a treble: Magnasonic, Call On Duty and Alaskan.
January 27, 2024
Ascot
Real Danger scores first stakes win and first under Dan Morton’s care in the Scenic Blast Stakes.
Clint Johnston Porter grabs a treble: Snippy Which, Manavendra and Autumn Rebel.
January 28, 2024
Mount Barker
Supersession wins the Mount Barker Sprint, capping a treble for trainer Adam Durrant and jockey, Clint Johnston-Porter.