Pike Shooting To Win Australian Guineas

Perth gallopers have had a great record in Melbourne this season and Sean Casey is hoping Dom To Shoot can continue that trend in the Australian Guineas.

Leading Perth trainer has had to venture to Melbourne to gain the services of his champion local jockey but he is thankful for the rare opportunity .

Pike will ride for the Sean and stable in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Casey said he had little hesitation in accepting the offer when Pike’s manager Dale Verhagen rang him and said he was keen to ride Dom To Shoot in the three-year-old feature.

“It’s very to get him to ride our horses in Perth as he’s committed to Mr Peters’ horses who are usually the superior horses at home. He’s very loyal to him and that’s understandable,” Casey said.

Casey said Pike had ridden for him in but infrequently.

“I’m very happy to have him on,” Casey said.

“I’ve spoken to him and although he hasn’t ridden the horse he said he knew him quite well because he had ridden against him so many times.”

Dom To Shoot, who is by Shooting To Win, is named after premiership hero Dom Sheed and his feat in kicking the winning goal from the boundary line late in their 2018 grand final win over Collingwood.

Dom To Shoot made his Victorian debut in the C S Hayes Stakes where he produced a fast-finishing fifth behind .

That was his first run since his third in the Group One Kingston Town Stakes behind two star local gallopers in and Inspirational Girl.

“We were very happy with his run. He bungled the start from a wide barrier and had to go back a long way,” Casey said.

“He had to make a long sweeping run and he probably peaked with 100 metres to go.

“He’s since had a jump out at Flemington and with the run under his belt he’s ready to run well.

“The form from the Kingston Town Stakes is very good and he’s got a good barrier.”

Casey said they hoped Dom To Shoot ran well enough to gain a wildcard into the .

“Hopefully he can run in the placings or do enough to catch the eye to get in,” he said.

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