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Pike heading to the Top End for Darwin Cup

Tom Walter - Thursday July 27

Star Perth jockey William Pike will be a major draw card at the Darwin Cup meeting next month.

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William Pike.

Pike, currently the most prolific rider in Australia with 193-1/2 wins to his name this season, has been booked to partner former Godolphin galloper Lieder in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2000m) on Monday week.

Lieder is prepared by South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott, who tasted success in last year's edition of the Darwin Cup with another ex-Sydneysider in Canny Ballad.

Pike has previously ridden at tracks in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, even Singapore and Hong Kong, but never at Darwin's picturesque Fannie Bay racecourse.

"I'm pretty excited to pick this ride up actually," Pike told TAB Radio.

"It was a bit of a strange phone call I wasn't expecting but Michael won the Cup last year, the horse gets in with 54(kg) and his lead-up run last start was quite good.

"It's nice to get a phone call from people outside of your circles and that they're thinking of you."

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