Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is confident Sacred Falls (NZ) can maintain his perfect record when stepping up to Group 2 company in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday.

The O’Reilly three-year-old has won his first three starts including the Listed Westbury Challenge Stakes (1200m) on September 15.  “He’s tightened up well since his run at Ruakaka and he looks bright in the coat,” Pike said.  “We’re expecting another bold showing.

“It’s hard to see them turning the tables on the form out of the Westbury Challenge,” Pike said.  “Roger James has Touch Win engaged and he’s an unknown quantity.  But my horse has a better barrier and is more experienced.

“If he can’t beat Touch Win on Saturday, it’s unlikely we’ll beat him in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and I would have to reassess.”

Pike has a select team heading to Hastings on Saturday, with runners in each of the three stakes races, including Carrick (Shinko King) in the G1 NZB Insurance Spring Classic (2040m) and Aspinal (Pins) in the G3 Traderacks Stakes (1400m).

Carrick will probably stay in New Zealand but if he runs a boomer in the Spring Classic, Pike will consider races like the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or Sandown Classic at the Melbourne Spring Carnival.”

Aspinal will bow out of racing win, lose or draw in the Traderacks Stakes.  The six-year-old daughter of Pins has been scanned in foal to Zabeel.

SACRED FALLS