PIKE SET TO RIDE FOR GOLLAN

William Pike set to ride Isotope for Tony Gollan

Tony Gollan has turned to Pike to ride his stable stars, Isotope in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap in two weeks time after regular jockey Ryan Maloney has been ruled out after being unable to make the allotted 52.5kgs for the race.

“It puts you into a special pool of riders, we were lucky enough to have a few options and we thought Willie Pike was the right option,” Gollan said.

“He is really making a good fist of things over here in the east, I feel he is the right rider and he is no stranger to Group One success, he can ride that weight beautifully.

“The horse was really fresh this morning, she was a bit naughty in the barriers on Saturday which did surprise me, but I can’t fault her.

“She pulled up better from this race than she did in the (Doomben) 10,000, apart from the interference she got in the straight, she had a soft run.”

Isotope hasn’t been in great form in recent starts finishing down the track in the Doomben 10,000 and just this weekend finished 2.55 lengths off Apache Chase this weekend in the Kingsford Smith Cup when crossing the line in 9th place.

Bookies are clearly expecting a return to form under the low weight and with Pike aboard as she currently sits as a $15.00 chance in betting. Kingsford Smith Cup winner Apache Chase currently sits as the $8.00 favourite in all in markets. 

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