He’s Western Australia’s premier jockey, but William Pike has given Victorian form analysts a decent spray, saying they ‘’should stay out of telling people where and how they should ride their horse’’
William Pike, the 40-year-old jockey with 3,694 wins including 18 Group 1s, isn’t happy with some commentary around his last ride in Victoria in the Memsie Stakes on Cosmic Crusader.
Pike flew into Melbourne to ride the gelding to a win in the Group 2 PJ Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, only to return to finish third in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes despite starting the $3.30 favourite.
The ride drew critics too, with a few arguing Pike had the chance to take Cosmic Crusader further forward in the run, rather than sit back beyond midfield.
The loudest was respected analyst Trav Noonan, who labelled the ride in the Memsie Stakes as ‘’inept’’.
‘’I want to be very critical here. I thought the ride from Pike was inept in a Group 1 race … it was a ride of a fly in, fly out rider. He didn’t work the map – he rode , I thought, just way too passive.’’
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Noonan wasn’t alone in his thinking.
Pike clearly listened to the feedback and wasn’t happy.
His first reaction came after a winning ride on Wednesday after the barrier draw for the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
‘’We’ve drawn a plum alley, better check all the gurus, let them know what my speed map is. I get my chance,’’ he said.
Pike’s fired up ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 racing. 🍿
Let’s go Cosmic 💪 pic.twitter.com/dgUFOPTdzb
— Racing WA TV (@RacingWATV) September 16, 2026
He followed it up again with another nice clip on Thursday.
‘’It’s just one of those things. Form analysts and things, sure, they’ve got a job to do, but I think they should stay out of telling people where and how they should ride their horse. It’s none of their business,’’ he said.
‘’We’re supplying entertainment. We’re supplying them with a job at the end of the day. Do your form up and let the rest unfold.’’
Pikey responds 🍿
📺 7plus, @Racing, Ch 78/68, Foxtel 529 or via our website. pic.twitter.com/fH6Tno9Z5W
— Racing WA TV (@RacingWATV) September 17, 2026
Whack.
Cosmic Crusader, after drawing barrier three, is currently the $2.60 favourite with TAB for the Underwood.
