Jockey William Pike suspended after causing severe interference in 2023 Winterbottom Stakes

Star Perth jockey suspended for 22 days after being found guilty of careless riding that almost caused Damien Oliver to fall in Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes.

Star Perth jockey William Pike copped a 22-day suspension after causing interference during the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Picture: Getty Images

Star Perth jockey William Pike has been suspended for 22 days after being found guilty of careless riding that almost caused Damien Oliver to fall from his mount in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

Racing WA stewards said Pike allowed his Winterbottom mount, the runner-up Oscar’s Fortune, to shift inwards at the 800m when not clear of Resortman (Brad Rawiller).

As a result, Resortman was carried inwards onto the third-placed Ripcord (Clint Johnston-Porter), which in turn was held tight and carried inwards onto Oliver’s mount Triple Missile, which blundered from heels. Oliver was almost dislodged in the incident.

OVERPASS (5 g Vancouver - Walkway) proves too good for them in the Winterbottom Stakes and claims his first Group 1 win 🥇

A first Group 1 winner for @Woodside_Park sire VANCOUVER, and a Quinella for the farm with OSCARS FORTUNE (Rich Enuff) finishing second 👏

The gelding was… pic.twitter.com/lT22BFgPjR

— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) December 2, 2023

• Overpass breaks his Group 1 duck in Winterbottom Stakes

In handing down a 22-day penalty, to commence at midnight on Saturday, December 9 and to cease at midnight on December 31, stewards determined Pike’s carelessness to be in the low-to-mid range despite the fact three runners copped varying degrees of interference.

Under Racing and Wagering WA policy, the fact the offence occurred during a Group 1 race means the suspension includes an additional 10-day tariff.

The GOAT and the Wizard 🐐🧙‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/6FKc0RGwyr

— TABtouch (@TAB_touch) December 2, 2023

The Winterbottom was won by the Bjorn Baker-trained Sydney raider Overpass, with local three-year-olds Oscar’s Fortune and Ripcord taking out the minor placings.

Originally published as Jockey William Pike suspended after causing severe interference in 2023 Winterbottom Stakes