Kiwi trainer Tony Pike confident Provocative can qualify for Queensland Oaks

AFTER unleashing a potential star two-year-old in Queensland last Wednesday, Tony Pike is hoping to qualify his impressive filly Provocative for the Queensland Oaks.

NZ trainer Tony Pike with Rangipo. Picture: Tim Marsden

AFTER unleashing a potential star two-year-old in Queensland last Wednesday, Kiwi trainer Tony Pike is hoping for another Wednesday winner to qualify his impressive filly Provocative for the Queensland Oaks.

Pike’s boom juvenile Sacred Elixir shot up the charts to become a $9 chance for next month’s Group 1 JJ Atkins after he spanked a Sunshine Coast field when on debut in Australia last week.

Pike will head to Ipswich on a mission to sneak exciting filly Provocative into the Oaks. A veteran of just five starts, Provocative’s $18,278 stake earnings aren’t currently anywhere near enough to get her a start in the Oaks.

Despite that, she is currently on the sixth line of Oaks betting at $14 with UBET.

“She is a hugely talented, nice big staying Zabeel filly and I think she would be a definite contender for the Oaks if we can get her in the field,’’ Pike said.

“Hopefully she can win at Ipswich and get more prizemoney so she can force her way into the Oaks.’’

Pike has a nice Winter Carnival team including New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo who will run in Saturday’s Fred Best Classic (1350m) on the way to his main goal of the Queensland Guineas.

Rangipo has won seven from 12 starts, including his past three, but Pike says he isn’t a true stayer despite his NZ Derby win.

“He doesn’t really stay but at the time of the Derby he was just in great form and very fit,’’ Pike said.

“He only just fell in that day just because of the good horse he is and because of the big heart he has.

“He should be OK fresh at 1350m in the Fred Best but he will be a lot better once he hits the Guineas at a mile.’’

Meanwhile, Pike hasn’t yet seen anything in the Winter Carnival two-year-old ranks to dissuade him from his opinion that Sacred Elixir will be in the JJ Atkins up to his ears.

Godolphin two-year-old Souchez was an eye-catcher and a big market mover in the JJ when he charged home for third behind Winning Rupert in last Saturday’s Champagne Classic.

“Souchez did close that race off well but I wouldn’t swap my fella,’’ Pike said.

“I’m pretty excited about him and I think he is a pretty serious horse.

“What he showed us back home in a limited preparation when we thought he was immature was pretty good. And he has just gone from strength to strength over here in Australia.’’

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Kiwi trainer Donna Logan says multiple Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’barrell has improved heading into Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup.

Volkstok’n’barrell is on the third line of Doomben Cup betting at $6.50 after a nice third in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

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Trainer Kelso Wood says Queensland two-year-old Nikitas is on track for the JJ Atkins despite running down the track in last Saturday’s Champagne Classic.

Nikitas ran eighth of 10, almost five lengths behind Winning Rupert, but Wood’s confidence in the colt has not been dented.

“He is just fine ... that race last weekend was a strange one and it never really suited him,’’ Wood said.

Originally published as Kiwi trainer Tony Pike confident Provocative can qualify for Queensland Oaks