
Champion jockey William Pike is nearing the end of a frustrating spell on the sidelines and is hopeful to return to racing within the next month.
Out of action since December, Pike has received encouraging news from his specialist, bringing him closer to a comeback after breaking his wrist in an e-scooter accident.
The multiple Perth jockey premiership winner was forced to miss out on significant opportunities, including riding $1.5 million Gold Rush winner Western Empire, due to the injury that required surgery.
Pike’s absence also meant he missed Perth’s premier Group 1 races, such as the Winterbottom Stakes, the Railway Stakes, and the Northerly Stakes, leaving him eager to make up for lost time.
Despite the setback, Pike did manage to secure feature race success earlier in the season with talented three-year-old Storyville in the Champion Fillies Stakes and the WA Guineas.
This latest injury adds to a challenging 2024 for Pike, who also missed a significant portion of the year’s start due to a broken heel.
“William saw the specialist last week and was pleased with his progress,” said Pike’s manager, Dale Verhagen, in an interview with Racing WA.
“The estimated recovery time is around three to four weeks, but given the importance of his wrist for riding, William won’t rush his return.
“He’s being cautious, which is understandable considering he’s missed six months out of the last 15 due to injuries.”
In Pike’s absence, Chris Parnham has taken a commanding lead in Perth’s jockey premiership. Parnham, who recently celebrated an Ascot treble on Saturday and a double at Bunbury last Sunday, has notched 67 city wins.
Pike, meanwhile, remains on 47 ½ city wins but still holds a comfortable lead over Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Clint Johnston-Porter.
Despite missing nearly three months at the start of 2024 with a broken heel, Pike managed to overtake Parnham to claim his 14th Perth jockey’s title last season.