Racing WA
William Pike & Wind And The Lion

Proud Pike stares down another jockey premiership

21 July 2025

That William Pike is closing in on another Perth Jockey’s Premiership should come as no real surprise.

He’s pretty much hoisted the metropolitan rider’s title for the best part of two decades in the west.

Gun rival Chris Parnham and injury time out provided a sterner test this season, but a late flurry has Pike zeroing in on a 15th trophy.

Pike missed a chunk of the season and key Ascot carnival rides last year after breaking his wrist but has found his groove in recent weeks.

With just a few meetings to go before the 2024-25 season draws to a close, Pike advanced to 102 ½ wins after another masterful riding display at Bunbury on Saturday.

He booted home Linden’s Gold, Terratif, Madhi Girl and Wind And The Lion in the Bolton Sprint (1200m), a Listed race that he’s made his own after five previous victories.

Pike advanced to be 7 ½ wins clear of Parnham, who appeared to have the premiership race in safe keeping until he was cruelly cut down by injury and missed several months following a nasty fall.

Pike admits it’s been a challenging season and a test of his physical and mental resolve, but contrary to his usual manner, he’ll reflect back on it proudly.

“It means a lot,” Pike said on Tabradio.

"I’ve such a stop-start season, broken bones, broken wrist.

“A lot was happening in those regards.

“To still be able to come back and end on top of the premiership, I’m pretty lucky and pretty grateful.

“I don’t generally get to sit down and reflect, I generally don’t, but I think this season I’ll definitely take five minutes and reflect.

“I’m a bit prouder of myself this time around, previous times it’s been business as usual.

“This one means a lot, just because of the stop-start nature of it all.

“I did get lucky because Chris unfortunately got hurt as well, otherwise I think he would have run off with it.

“I was never in convention, then back in contention when Chris got hurt.”

Pike is also staring down bragging rights for an 8th Australian premiership.

He currently sits on 161 ½ wins with Blake Shinn next on 156.

Julio Santarelli