Champion WA jockey William Pike chasing fifth consecutive Railway Stakes win

Star WA jockey William Pike will again form a formidable team with owner Bob Peters when the pair shoots for a fifth straight Railway Stakes win.

William Pike will be striving to win a fifth straight Railway Stakes on Saturday. Picture: AAP

WA’s star jockey William Pike ought to know the formula required to win a Railway Stakes.

Pike has steered the last four Railway Stakes winners for powerful Perth owner Bob Peters in a streak that started with Galaxy Star in 2018 and included last year’s winner Western Empire.

Grant and Alana Williams prepared Pike’s four straight wins while the jockey also teamed up with Grant Williams to win the 2014 Railway Stakes with Elite Belle.

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However, Adam Durrant will prepare Treasured Star for Pike and Peters this year.

Pike has spent most of the year riding in New South Wales but he noticed things had changed when he recently returned to start a two-month stint in his home state.

“It’s not quite the same,” Pike said.

“It has a bit of a different feel to it because Mr Peters’ horses have changed trainers since I left.”

William Pike winning the Railway Stales on Galaxy Star in 2018. Picture: AAP

Pike will take over from Clint Johnston-Porter on Treasured Star in Saturday’s $1.5m Railway Stakes after the latter rode the Toronado mare to win the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes on October 29.

Pike’s four successive Railway Stakes winners have all emerged from the Asian Beau Stakes.

Western Empire (2021), Inspirational Girl (2020) and Galaxy Star (2018) won the Asian Beau Stakes before claiming the Railway Stakes.

Regal Power ran second in the Asian Beau Stakes in 2019 before winning the Railway.

“Treasured Star won the race that is considered the main formline into the Railway and there has been a high conversion rate into the Railway Stakes,” Pike said.

“It’s where you want to be running well leading into it.”

A light weight is also part of Pike and Peters’ formula to win the Railway Stakes.

All of Pike’s five winners of Perth’s showpiece handicap carried 53kg, the same weight as Treasured Star will carry on Saturday.

“It’s generally been a race for the light weights,” Pike said.

“They generally get in well and it tells you they are still an up and comer.

“That’s where my success has been in the race.”

TAB has Treasured Star at $8 in its latest Railway Stakes betting.

Originally published as Champion WA jockey William Pike chasing fifth consecutive Railway Stakes win