http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.pikeracing.nz en-us Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:33:26 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/127634/thooza-shines-on-debut-at-te-rapa/ A pair of regally-bred fillies featured in the finish of the Cambridge Raceway 2YO (1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa, with Thooza coming out on top on debut over Sister Cynane.Almanzor filly Thooza is out of Sea Goddess, the third foal of two-time Horse Of The Year heroine Seachange, while Sister Cynane, a daughter of I Am Invincible, was a $1.3million yearling purchase with the credentials of Group One-winning mare Prompt Response on her pedigree page.With two recent trial victories under her belt... Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post127634 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/127631/fresh-impendabelle-a-threat-in-cambridge-breeders/ Impendabelle proved herself at the highest-level last campaign, and the talented filly is poised to strike in a fresh state in Saturday’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.The daughter of Impending undoubtedly brings the most outstanding form to the three-year-old feature, having won the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old, and holding that form this season with a Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) crown, and a pair of Group One placings in the ... Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post127631 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/127630/investigate-a-genuine-championship-contender/ Up and coming staying prospect Investigate promises to give another bold account of himself at Ellerslie on Saturday in what is likely to be the final appearance of his current campaign.The Tony Pike-prepared son of Dundeel has relished the step up to middle distance racing and appeals as a leading chance in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).He is one of a quartet of strong black type chances for Pike, who also has Lanikai in the three-year-old feature while Rudyard contests th... Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post127630 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/125678/trentham-track-to-favour-witz-end/ Tony Pike believes the big, roomy Trentham track will suit his promising three-year-old Witz End right down to the ground in Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m).Unbeaten in his first two starts, the Savabeel gelding’s picket fence form line came to an end last Friday when beaten by December on the tight-turning Taupo track over 1300m.“It was just disappointing having to take him to Taupo. He needed the run, but he is just such a big-actioned horse, he really got lost aro... Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post125678 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/125504/hat-trick-bowls-them-over-at-ellerslie/ Promising four-year-old Hat Trick proved he has plenty more to offer as he claimed his second victory from just three starts, with a stylish front-running performance to take out a Special Conditions Maiden contest over 1400m at Ellerslie. The statuesque son of Fastnet Rock kept rider Michael McNab on his toes throughout with some erratic behaviour, but when asked to focus his energies on his task he buckled down nicely to dash clear of his rivals in the home straight after setting his own ... Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post125504 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/125503/proven-harlow-rocks-gets-the-nod-from-trainer/ Tony Pike has tipped Harlow Rocks as the stable’s best chance of stakes success at Taupo on Friday.The Cambridge trainer will be represented by the in-form Roc de Cambes filly and the promising Sign Of Peace in take two of the Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2000m) following the abandonment of last week’s Hastings meeting.“That was very disappointing the other day, but they both need a lead-up to the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) so we’ll head to Taupo and see how we go,” Pike sa... Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post125503 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/125502/pike-runners-prepare-for-derby-challenge/ Tony Pike certainly knows how to win a Derby, but the Cambridge trainer is taking a philosophical approach into this year’s edition.Pike has collected two Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) titles in recent years with Rangipo (2016) and Sherwood Forest (2020), and he will have two contenders in Saturday’s Trackside-sponsored edition at Ellerslie.One of his representatives in High Country, a son of Mongolian Khan, was runner-up in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) preceding fifth and sixth-pla... Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post125502 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/125501/pike-fillies-ready-to-rock-in-lowland/ Harlow Rocks announced herself into the Oaks equation last-start behind Molly Bloom and won’t have the star filly to contend with in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings.Under the care of Cambridge conditioner Tony Pike, Harlow Rocks was a gallant pacemaker in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) on February 10, holding off her more favoured rivals, bar Molly Bloom, at the Te Rapa finishing post.The daughter of Roc De Cambes will line-up ... Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post125501 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/124741/young-stablemates-in-fine-fettle-for-features/ Two younger members of Tony Pike’s team will spearhead the stable’s representation at Matamata with higher honours beckoning the duo if they race up to expectations.The Cambridge trainer will chase a two-year-old feature double on Saturday with Archaic Smile in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Poetic Champion in the Gr.2 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m).Archaic Smile was a debut fifth at Te Rapa before she trekked south to win at Otaki in November and ... Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:27:13 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post124741 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/post/124740/pike-fillies-show-class-in-te-rapa-features/ Tony Pike’s classy pair of Harlow Rocks and Vera Rose put their hands up for loftier targets after playing the bridesmaid role at Te Rapa on Saturday.Harlow Rocks, a daughter of Roc De Cambes, had shown early promise including a strong maiden victory in late November, before a switch to the right-handed track at Pukekohe was not to her liking in a first attempt at black-type on Boxing Day.Cambridge-based Pike opted to scratch the filly from the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) in deteriorating New ... Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:22:54 +1300 http://www.pikeracing.nz/blog/#post124740