Written by Paul Vettise
Tony Pike will head into unchartered waters this week when he chases further Group 1 success in Australia for the year with the well-travelled Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G1 Winterbottom S. at Ascot this weekend.
The Cambridge trainer, who produced The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) for a double top-flight strike during the Queensland winter carnival, will step into the unknown but has every confidence he can get a result.
“I’m going on Wednesday and I’ve never raced a horse in Perth or ever been there so it’s a new experience and I’m looking forward to it,” Pike said.
“Endless Drama went to Melbourne 12 days ago and spent a week there and flew to Perth last Thursday. He’s done plenty of travelling in his time so there were no problems there.”
Endless Drama (Ire) will start in the G1 Winterbottom S. at Ascot this weekend
The Qatar Bloodstock-owned 8-year-old has been accompanied by former Group 1 winning rider Mark Hills, who provided Pike with a glowing report on the entire after working him at Ascot on Saturday morning.
“It looks a nice race for him and it will be interesting to see how he goes. The barrier draw will be key, he really needs to draw a good gate and get a bit of cover. If he gets that he should go close to running in the money.”
“The barrier draw will be key, he really needs to draw a good gate and get a bit of cover.” – Tony Pike
Endless Drama, who is being stabled at Simon Miller’s property, joined Pike’s team earlier this year after winning the G2 Apollo S. during his time with champion trainer Chris Waller.
He didn’t take long to make an impact for Pike, winning the G2 Easter H. last season and finished third in the G1 Stradbroke H.
Pike is taking confidence in Endless Drama’s effort to win the G2 Foxbridge Plate first-up in August before beaten after a torrid run in the G1 Tarzino S. and was then given a spell.
“He won the Foxbridge fresh-up over 1200 metres and beat Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle and hasn’t that form held up,” he said.
“We had some foot problems with him in the spring and he obviously had a really tough run in the Tarzino so we gave him a break.
“The Winterbottom looks an ideal target for him and the club was keen to get him there when taking into account his form around Melody Belle and Te Akau Shark. They’ve paid all the transport as well as some other costs.
“The Winterbottom looks an ideal target for him and the club was keen to get him there when taking into account his form around Melody Belle and Te Akau Shark.” – Tony Pike
“He’s been off for a while, but he goes well fresh and as long as he gets a reasonable draw he should be a big chance. He’ll come home after the run and we’ll assess things then and he could go to the Telegraph first-up.”
Endless Drama will be ridden on Saturday by Leith Innes, who has been aboard in the bulk of his starts in New Zealand and partnered him in the Stradbroke.
The entire, who was a winner in Ireland and twice a Group 1 placegetter before beginning his travels, is a son of the Listed French winner Desert Drama (Ire) (Green Desert {USA}). She is a half-sister to the stakes winners Sharpest Image (Ire) (Exactly Sharp {USA}), Tycoon’s Hill (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and Tycoon’s Dolce (Ire) (Rainbows For Life {Can}).
Loire will return to the stable soon to begin her build-up toward the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March
Meanwhile, Endless Drama’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winning stablemate Loire (Redoute’s Choice) will return to the stable soon to begin her build-up toward the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March.
“She’s enjoyed a spell and very relaxed in the paddock,” Pike said.
He is also considering a first-up tilt at the G1 Railway S. for fellow 3-year-old Kali (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who finished seventh in the Guineas, but had a valid excuse.
“They stood in the gates for ages and she got upset and hit the front of the gates and got a blood nose,” he said. “That put her out the back and she had too much to do. She was supposed to be in front or outside the leader.”
