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Why Pike chose his Railway ride
Andrew Slevison • November 17th, 2025 3:53 pm
Willie Pike has outlined why he has chosen to ride Watch Me Rock in this weekend’s Railway Stakes.
The gun Western Australian jockey had his choice of the Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding or stablemate Western Empire for the $1.5 million Group 1 over 1600m at Ascot on Saturday.
Pike, who rode a winning treble at the same track last weekend, says Watch Me Rock’s light weight of 54kg appeals more than 2021 Railway winner Western Empire’s top weight of 58kg.
“I’ve elected to go with Watch Me Rock for the Railway,” Pike told SEN WA Breakfast.
“It’s by no means an easy decision. There’s a lot of competition out there, Western Empire was one of my other main choices.
“I’m not certain I’ve made the right choice but that’s the choice I’ve made and I’m going to make it work. I do think he’s good enough to win it and good enough to hold any (eastern state) raiders at bay.”
Pike further explained the reason behind his decision, highlighting the fact that horses down the weights (carrying 53.5kg or less) have won 13 of the last 15 Railways.
“I just like a young horse, pretty much, and it’s a lighter weight,” he said.
“Historically, at least in the last 10 years, the lighter weight horses have done better.
“That’s about it really, I can’t split the two horses on ability. It’s the flip of a coin and honestly I was just trying to find something that worked in my favour.
“If I picked Western Empire I could probably flip the story in his favour as well.”
The premier hoop of the WA turf has a great relationship with the dominant Williams pair, so much so that they give him the honours when there is a choice to make.
“They’re really good to me. I get to pick which one I want,” he added.
“Especially in this sort of situation I do talk to them a lot. In these 50-50 calls I’d be happy if they me a call like that, it would probably take the pressure off me in making the decision.
“They’re much the same, they don’t want to make the wrong call either. So I do get ultimate say. I could have ridden Western Empire if I wanted to, but I was happy to go with Watch Me Rock.”
Pike is aiming for his sixth Railway for the Williams’ this weekend. He previously won on Elite Belle (2014), Galaxy Star (2018), Regal Power (2019), Inspirational Girl (2020) and Western Empire (2021).
Another key ride for Pike this weekend is emerging star King Of Light in the Group 2 WA Guineas.
The Dan Morton-trained three-year-old is undefeated in four career starts and only needs to overcome his own quirks to avoid going under at the mile.
But Pike was not expecting the three-year-old feature to fall in his lap.
“He is still raw and he is learning his trade, so he’s certainly not a point and shoot,” Pike said of the Earthlight gelding.
“But just on his ability level and what he’s shown he’s very exciting. He has the ability to win it and he has the ability to win it in his own way.
“I do have a lot of respect for some of the opposition. Some years it falls in your favour that it’s not a strong year. Well, I think it’s quite the opposite, it’s a really strong year.”
King Of Light is a short-priced favourite for the WA Guineas.
Pike won aboard Storyville last year, marking his fifth triumph in the race.
