NZ trainer Tony Pike targets Queensland

NZ trainer Tony Pike will bring six horses from Auckland to Brisbane for the winter carnival.

New Zealand trainer Tony Pike has put the finishing touches on his team of Brisbane winter carnival aspirants with five of the six having race day gallops at Te Rapa.

Bostonian, Ever Loyal, Indecision, Intrigue and Terra Sancta all pleased the trainer in Saturday’s work-outs and will be joined by Group Two Easter Handicap winner Endless Drama on a flight from Auckland to Brisbane on Friday.

Pike has celebrated big race wins in Brisbane in the past including the 2016 Queensland Oaks with Provocative and J J Atkins with Sacred Elixir the same year.

“We’ve got a good team heading over this year although it does seem a little strange most of them are sprinters, which is unusual as the kiwi sprinters don’t often compete in Australia,” Pike told NZ Racing Desk.

“In saying that, all have been working well and I think they are up to the competition they will face over there.

“Bostonian, Ever Loyal and Endless Drama all have the Stradbroke Handicap as their main assignment and will take similar paths to get there.

“Bostonian has good residual fitness as he was only in the paddock for three weeks. He went super there as a three-year-old and he had a good hit-out on Saturday that will top him off nicely.

“He will probably go to the BRC Sprint at Doomben first-up, as will Ever Loyal, and then we will take it from there.

“Indecision will be set for some of the fillies and mares’ events during the carnival.

“She is flying at the moment and will be suited in Brisbane as she can handle any track surface, so if they get rain it won’t worry her.

“She worked home beautifully on Saturday, so I think she is spot-on for the trip.”

Completing the Pike team are Terra Sancta and Intrigue who worked together on Saturday.

Bostonian, who races as The Bostonian in Australia, won three races in Queensland last year culminating in the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas.