The Wizard of the West is moving to the bright lights of Sydney.
William Pike made the decision to move from the west coast of Australia to the east following WA racing’s vaccine mandate for jockeys.
While the move has been tough for Pike, he is thriving in a new environment and understands the competition for rides is far tougher in his new home.
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“It’s very competitive obviously, it’s a tough market here,” he said.
“I suppose back home in the west, everything is still towards one or two or three days, and our hopes and dreams are all tied up in those days.
“Whereas here, there’s more big races in one day than we have for the year.
“Everyone seems pretty well switched on, they are on the hunt – our races are built up on a couple of big meetings, whereas here they keep rolling and the boys keep operating.”
Pike is preparing to ride a Group 1 favourite on Sunday and has confirmed that his move to Sydney will be permanent, even if WA eases its vaccine mandate.
It means, Pike’s partner, Jessica Valas and their two kids will make the move in the next six weeks.
“My family is coming across, I don’t see any point in making this move and not seeing it out for as long as I possibly can,” Pike told the Daily Telegraph.
“Even if things change in WA, I will be staying in Sydney as I want to make a real go of it here. It is definitely going to be a prolonged stay, it could very well be indefinite.”
The move to Sydney will be a huge difference for Pike and his family, having lived on a 1300 acre farm two hours from Perth.
At Rosehill on Saturday, Pike is readying to take Brisbane-based Gypsy Goddess at $3.90 to victory in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
