Champion Perth jockey William Pike has secured the ride on the Robert Hickmott-trained German import Schabau in the Melbourne Cup.
The son of Pastorious made a spectacular start to his Australian career when he impressively reeled off three straight wins last year.
Schabau won a hat trick of races at Flemington between January and February culminating with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m).
The five-year-old is working his way back from a tendon injury sustained while spelling after finishing unplaced behind Super Titus in a 2000m Flemington handicap last May.
Schabau’s owners, led by Perth’s Geoff Evans, were keen to book Pike after he confirmed he would be based in Melbourne for the spring carnival.
Pike, fresh from breaking his Australian riding record last week, will ride a hot team of horses for owner-breeder Bob Peters and co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams.
“It was spoken about for a while, but with the opportunity of William being in Melbourne at the time he was offered the mount,” Evans said.
“It will make for a great story if we can pull it off.
“We have to get the horse to qualify for the Melbourne Cup, but we are giving him the best chance possible.
“He is based at Macedon Lodge, a property that was previously owned by Lloyd Williams and it’s like horse heaven.
“Robert (Hickmott) tells me he is thriving there and enjoying the surrounds.
“The plan is to run him over two handicap races before the Bart Cummings in October.
“Hopefully it all comes to fruition.”
Evans is no stranger to feature Melbourne races as an owner. Trap For Fools won the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in 2018 while Too Close The Sun claimed the Terang Cup-Warrnambool Cup double in April and May.
Julio Santarelli