Perth’s premier jockey William Pike is confident his mount Disposition can knock off the odds on favourite Scales Of Justice in the Group 3 $150,000 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont in Perth on Saturday.
Scales Of Justice suffered a surprise defeat first up when second to Rock Magic in the Group 3 $150,000 Belmont Sprint (11400m) at Belmont on June 3 but has been installed the $1.45 favourite for the Hyperion Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Pike was aboard Disposition for a third in the Belmont Sprint and can see the Grant and Alana Williams trained five year old turning the stables on the hot pot this week.
“Absolutely (Can beat Scales Of Justice),” Pike told TABradio.
“Scales Of Justice is clearly the one to beat and I think we can.
“We sat back in the sprint and gave them a start. Disposition let down strongly.”
Pike admits that Disposition raced below par during his 2016 Perth Summer Carnival campaign which included an eleventh to Scales Of Justice in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot but is expecting the gelding to back near his peak form for the Hyperion Stakes.
“His Railway campaign was disappointing, but now he feels like he’s back to his best,” Pike said.
“He feels like he needs 1600m.”
Pike continues to ride in outstanding form and leads the Perth jockey premiership table with ninety-four metropolitan winners for the 2016 – 2017 racing season and collected four winners at Pinjarra on Thursday on the back of a winning double at Belmont on Wednesday.
If Pike happens to find the winner’s stall on Disposition in the Hyperion Stakes, he won’t have much time celebrate before heading to Singapore to ride the Laurie Laxon trained Lim’s Samurai in the Group 1 $500,000 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) on Sunday.
Disposition has drawn barrier eight in the ten horse Hyperion Stakes while Scales Of Justice will jump from gate five with Daniel Staeck in the saddle again.
Scales Of Justice dominates the betting at $1.45 with Disposition the only other runner under the $10 mark at $3.80.