The Irishman

Beluga lands Sha Tin feature for David Hall and Matthew Chadwick

Posted on January 11, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Benefiting from an overdue change of luck with barriers, Beluga upstaged several Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders with facile victory in the Class 2 Chek Keng Handicap (1600m), prompting trainer David Hall to consider loftier targets with the talented gelding. Beluga’s record of five wins and eight minor placings from 16 starts would be even more[...]

Posted on January 8, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Tony Cruz is confident Ima Single Man can stamp Hong Kong Classic Mile credentials with another strong performance in the Class 2 Chek Keng Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 January) in a contest pivotal to the hopes of several Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders. Stepping to 1600m for the first time after wins[...]

Posted on January 8, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The Tony Pike-trained Scribe will do his future racing in Hong Kong with the unbeaten son of Press Statement sold to clients of David Hayes. Two starts for two wins, including an impressive last-start triumph over Group One winner On The Bubbles and Sophisticardo was enough to earn the required Hong Kong 63 rating. Purchased[...]

Posted on August 31, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Like most New Zealand trainers, Cambridge horseman Tony Pike is champing at the bit to see thoroughbred racing recommence once the current COVID lockdown restrictions are eased around the majority of the country. Pike has a large spring team ready to rock and roll, with the stable likely to have 31 horses at the Cambridge[...]

Posted on March 12, 2021
in Australian Horse Racing News

If Mark Newnham was looking for an ideal test of Spirit Ridge’s autumn carnival credentials, he has found it in the Sky High Stakes. The eight-horse field boasts Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh, Metropolitan Handicap victor Mirage Dancer, Caulfield Cup placegetter The Chosen One and two Oaks heroines in Colette and Toffee Tongue. “It’s a good[...]

Posted on January 20, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Fairytales don’t often come true, but Tony Pike is very hopeful that comeback horse Sacred Elixir can provide him with one. Sacred Elixir was one of the Cambridge trainer’s best horses, winning the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane and finishing second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), both in 2016. Sent[...]

Posted on December 28, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Promising three-year-old galloper Bentayga shook off the effects of a pre-race scare to register his first victory at New Plymouth on Sunday. The Tony Pike-trained runner fired up on his way to the start and took rider Michael McNab for an extended preliminary before being captured and returned to the starting gates. Approved to start[...]

Posted on December 23, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Punters who have taken the about unraced juvenile Khufu in next month’s $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) can breathe a little easier after the son of American Pharoah looked all class when winning an 800m trial at Cambridge on Tuesday. The Tony Pike-trained colt has long impressed trial-watchers but will make a[...]

Posted on December 15, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Impressive debut winner The Irishman had a quiet trial at Te Aroha on Monday in readiness for a raceday return over the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival. The Tony Pike-trained son of Tavistock won at first time of asking at Avondale over 1100m before finishing fifth to Shezzacatch in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at[...]

Posted on October 7, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Big-race jockey Leith Innes believes Two Illicit could be the horse to help him complete the Hawke’s Bay Group 1 Triple Crown. Innes has won the first two legs of Hastings’ spring attraction, taking the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on three occasions (Starcraft, 2004 and Kawi 2015 and 2016) and the Group 1 Windsor[...]

Posted on September 18, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainer Tony Pike has a host of runners at Hawke’s Bay on Saturday including exciting one-win three-year-old The Irishman, who steps straight into stakes company after continuing to please on the training track. Pike has made no secret of the high regard in which he holds the son of Tavistock, who got up in the[...]

Posted on September 14, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainer Tony Pike breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday morning as he watched Group 1 New Zealand Derby winner Sherwood Forest moving freely after pulling up lame in his campaign opener at Ellerslie the previous day. The Fastnet Rock four-year-old failed to beat a runner home in the JRA Trophy (1400m) and finished nearly[...]

Posted on September 3, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Punters that took the $1.30 about talented three-year-old The Irishman would have had their hearts in their mouths when the son of Tavistock stepped slowly from the barriers on debut over 1100m at Avondale on Wednesday on a Heavy10 surface. But the Tony Pike-trained colt flagged himself as a horse with a bright future after[...]

Posted on September 1, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It may have taken plenty of effort and sacrifice, but Cambridge trainer Tony Pike finally has his temporary Sydney satellite barn in operation. Stable foreman Chris McNab and trackwork rider Matthew Ward have undergone their mandatory two week quarantine period in Sydney after receiving travel exemptions to head across the Tasman earlier this month. While[...]

Beluga lands Sha Tin feature for David Hall and Matthew Chadwick

Cruz pins Classic aspirations on Ima Single Man

Hong Kong future for Scribe

Syndicates paying dividends for Pike supporters

Sydney Cup goal for progressive Spirit Ridge

Pike turns back the clock with Sacred Elixir

Pre-race scare not enough to stop promising maiden

Million outlook bright for unraced colt

The Irishman pleases at Te Aroha

Innes out to round off Triple Crown

Pike well-armed on “transition day” at Hastings

Sherwood Forest provides Pike with a quandary

Classy colt gets the job done

The Bostonian reunited with Pike team

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