All-Star Mile: William Pike opts for coin toss to split stablemates Regal Power and Superstorm
It’s not the most conventional method to decide which horse to ride but with the Wizard of the West William Pike anything is possible as he tossed a coin to settle on his elect in the $5 million All-Star Mile.
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William Pike has revealed his decision to ride Regal Power in Saturday’s $5 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield instead of stablemate Superstorm was decided by a coin toss — not form.
“In the end, I flipped a coin,” Pike told the Herald Sun.
“I couldn’t separate them. I wanted to ride both of them and obviously I can’t, so I called heads for Regal Power and that decided it.
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“I looked at all the pros and, vice a versa, all the cons. I looked at all the arguments not to ride both of them.
“In the end, I couldn’t come up with a reason so I tossed a coin here at home. It wasn’t anything ceremonial, just a coin toss.
“That decided it.”
Regal Power, second to Fifty Stars in the Australian Cup, and Superstorm, Australian Guineas runner-up behind Alligator Blood, are both trained by Grant and Alana Williams.
Pike’s decision paves the way for Mark Zahra to partner Superstorm.
Pike believes Regal Power’s experience of racing at Caulfield fourth to Miss Siska in the Peter Young Stakes last month — will be beneficial.
“He went around there before and it was one of the slight concerns in the way he handled it,” Pike said. “But it wasn’t really a huge concern.
“He ran really well at Flemington on Saturday.”
Lindsay Park’s decision to bypass the world’s richest 1600m race with Fifty Stars opened the door for Regal Power to clinch a start.
Regal Power is a TAB $11 chance while wildcard entrant Superstorm is $9 in early markets.
Luke Nolen will ride So Si Bon for Lindsay Park if the enigmatic galloper is promoted off the provisional emergency list into the final field of 15.
The barrier draw will be held on Tuesday.
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