Cambridge horseman Tony Pike has strengthened
his hand for the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with exciting Sebring
three year-old Ever Loyal booking his spot with a facile victory in the Listed
Zacinto Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday.
Ever Loyal is now an $8 chance in the Guineas after his victory romp under
jockey Jason Waddell.
They crossed from a wide gate to race in second spot and were left sitting
ducks before the turn, but Ever Loyal kept going to the line to win 1600 metre
feature in good style.
"It was a confident ride from Jason on Ever Loyal," Pike said. "He had to do
plenty of work early on and when the leader rolled off 500m out our horse was
left in front.
"He's a lovely horse and we've always had a good opinion of him and he's still
learning and improving."
A $240,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Lyndhurst Farm draft for Waikato Bloodstock, Ever Loyal was
bred by SF Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Newgate Farm.
He was a successful pinhook having been bought first from the Newgate Farm
draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale by Karl Brown Bloodstock for
$110,000.
With two wins and a second from four starts, he is the third winner from Miss
Lucille, a Rory's Jester grand-daughter of champion sprinter Special and is the
33rd stakes-winner for Widden Stud's flagship sire Sebring.