Pike Positions Himself For Marasco Mount
The Age
Friday October 19, 2007
THE race to secure the ride on Marasco in tomorrow week's Cox Plate continued in earnest yesterday, with Perth rider Willie Pike putting up his hand to ride the West Australian star if the mount was available.
Michael Rodd has been booked for Marasco but the horse's trainer Fred Kersley said he would not hold the jockey to a commitment if Caulfield Cup favourite Maldivian backed up at Moonee Valley.Pike already is eyeing at least one feature race in Melbourne over the carnival as he is set to partner WA three-year-old Best Beware in the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley on Saturday week and then the Victoria Derby a week later.Best Beware has raced only five times for one win at Northam but he continues to be well supported for the derby and was into $17 yesterday to win the $1.5 million classic with Betstar.Best Beware was the only three-year-old among the 64 second declarations for the Melbourne Cup.Best Beware is certainly well bred to contest a Melbourne Cup. He is by super sire Encosta De Lago and his dam Miss Meliss ran 10th in the 2002 Melbourne Cup at her final run.
© 2007 The Age