News

Sacred Star books tilt at Stradbroke with victory in QTC Cup

1st Jun 2014

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Sunday, 1 June 2014

Tony Pike is not a trainer well known to Australian punters but he had a big hand in preparing Sacred Falls to win his second Doncaster and might get a major of his own with Sacred Star in next week’s Stradbroke after he earned a start by winning the QTC Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Sacred Star was the final pin of Tim Bell’s winning treble and boosted the horse from 28th on the Stradbroke order of entry into the field.

‘‘This horse was a swap for Sacred Falls,’’ Pike said. ‘‘Chris [Waller] got him and sent this one back to me, so it’s starting to look a fair trade.

‘‘This is the first time I have brought a horse over here myself, usually with [Raffles syndicate horses] they came to Chris and it works well. Sacred Falls came back over to me [in New Zealand] after the Melbourne spring to be pre-trained before the autumn and went back to Chris after doing his base work with me.’’

Sacred Star hit the front a long way from home and then held off a charging Masthead, from the Waller yard, and Bennetta after it looked like the pair would beat him.

‘‘He does that – gets to the front and thinks it is done,’’ Pike said. ‘‘He always has some more to give. It is great to see him do that and get into the Stradbroke. We just wanted to get through today before thinking about the Stradbroke because we weren’t going to get a run. I know this race doesn’t have a good record in the Stradbroke but I think this bloke will be a chance coming off a hot speed with no weight on his back.’’

Bell, a natural lightweight, will have to make a decision between Sacred Star and River Lad as his Stradbroke ride in coming days.

Sacred Star firmed from $31 in to $10 with TAB fixed odds following the win, while Masthead is in to $21.

Bennetta will not run in the Stradbroke and instead target the Tattersalls Tiara on June 21.

‘‘That was good considering it has been five weeks since she ran in the All Aged Stakes,’’ trainer Grahame Begg said.

(Picture: Sacred Star as a yearling at Attunga Stud before he was sold to Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock on behalf of Raffles Racing for $200,000 at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale)