Group 1 double has Kiwi trainer Tony Pike enjoying another successful foray into Queensland

TONY Pike cast aside a miserable 2015 winter carnival to unearth potential spring stars in Sacred Elixir and Provocative as the likeable Kiwi trainer landed a Group 1 double.

Jockey Leith Innes rides Provocative to win the final race at Eagle Farm. Picture: AAP

TONY Pike cast aside a miserable 2015 winter carnival to unearth potential spring stars in Sacred Elixir and Provocative as the likeable Kiwi trainer landed a Group 1 double.

Pike had a successful foray into Queensland two years ago with Sacred Star winning the QTC Cup, but it was a nightmare last year, as his team failed to fire.

It’s been a different story this year. Sacred Elixir and Provocative gave the stable early provincial wins and the pair went right on with the job to land the Group 1 silverware on Saturday.

Sacred Elixir’s win in the JJ Atkins also brushed off Zac Purton’s maiden status in Queensland Group 1 races.

Purton had Sacred Elixir travelling closer than he had in the Sires Produce and when he let the son of Pour Moi down in the straight, his staying potential put his rivals to the sword.

Sacred Elixir is a grandson of the great mare Horlicks and his mum is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Brew, so Saturday’s 1600m was never going to pose any problems.

Pike said Sacred Elixir would now spell in Queensland and be pre-trained here ahead of a tilt on the Victoria Derby, as he chases the same double Mahogany completed in 1993.

“That was painless,” Pike said.

Jockey Leith Innes and Provocative combine to win the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Picture: AAP

For Purton, the jockey who made his name in Queensland before becoming an international star, it was his first Group 1 win in this state at start No. 31.

“I didn’t realise until someone brought it to my attention recently. It’s never really bothered me, I just had to get on the right horse. Now they can find something else to talk about,” Purton said.

“I love coming back home to Australia and back here to Queensland.

Jockey Leith Innes returns to scale aboard Provocative. Picture: AAP

“The track is magnificent. You forget how nice it is. I was just cantering around there to the barriers and you forget how nice it is.

“They’ve re-laid the turf and it’s come up a treat and they’ve got some great racing as a reward.”

Purton said there’s still a lot of upside to Sacred Elixir.

“He’s not yet matured and he’s quite immature still. He’s going to improve a lot and as he keeps improving he will make a nice spring horse,” he said.

Pike never expected Sacred Elixir to be a two-year-old.

“We trialled him at Te Aroha and expected to turn him straight out after that but he came bouncing off the track and then he ran brilliant sectionals to be just beaten at Ellerslie and we kept him going for the Karaka Millions, which was never going to be his race, but he still ran on strongly,” Pike said.

“His pedigree doesn’t say two-year-old, but you knew he would relish the 1600m (Wednesday) while others were always going to be a risk at it.”

Zac Purton breaks his Group 1 duck in Queensland. Picture: AAP

Originally published as Group 1 double has Kiwi trainer Tony Pike enjoying another successful foray into Queensland