Champion Perth jockey William Pike will make his much-anticipated return to the saddle after an injury-enforced layoff and has opted for Melbourne to get his season back on track.
Pike has been off the scene since December after fracturing his wrist in an e-scooter accident, a costly set back as he was due to ride $1.5 million Gold Rush winner, Western Empire.
Pike will partner Western Australian galloper Aztec Ruler in Saturday’s Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington and hopes the gelding can bounce back at his third interstate run.
“The wrist is feeling pretty good,” Pike said to Racing WA.
“Fitness probably isn’t quite where it should be, but it will be okay for the one ride.
“I was going to do trials on Monday anyway, so, I figured what’s one race ride.
“I will be easing into it; I won’t be back going full tilt.”
Aztec Ruler, a dual Listed winner and trained by Stefan Vahala, run a bolter first-up in Melbourne, before a flat second up performance.
The five-year-old was runner-up to It’sourtime in the Standish (1200m) at Flemington and in a small field of six in the John Dillion Stakes (1400m) at Sandown he ran fourth to Coastwatch.
Pike, who has had the one steer on Aztec Ruler previously, says the son of Universal Ruler had improved in the three weeks since his last-start failure.
“I’ve only had the one ride on him and it wasn’t anything special, he ran ninth, so it can only get better,” Pike jested.
“He’s picked up, looks better, is working better, but you still don’t know what you are going to get.
“He had to be picked up off the floor and the team have done a very good job in doing it.”
Aztec Ruler copped the visitors draw and will be starting from the extreme outside gate in the field of 11 starters.
Vahala’s number one charge in a growing and successful stable, Aztec Ruler has won seven races from 23 starts, with five of those wins at 1400m.
Career peaks to date were last year’s Bunbury Stakes (1400m) and Carbine Club Of WA Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
In Pike’s absence, Chris Parnham has stolen a march in Perth’s jockey premiership race.
On 71 city wins, Parnham is well clear of Pike, who is stranded on 48.5 wins.
Julio Santarelli