WILLIAM PIKE

Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Dan Morton has wasted no time snapping up the services of star jockey William Pike in what could be a forerunner to a potent new combination in WA racing.

On his first day back in the saddle from a stint in Hong Kong and brief holiday, Pike has been booked for five rides at Ascot on Wednesday - three for Morton.

Those three mounts are Scenic Fair (57-68, 1600m fillies and mares), Escape Velocity (57-68, 1600m entires and geldings) and Catchphrase (54-64, 1820m handicap).

The 23-year-old Pike, who completed a six-month contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club but opted to return home with partner and fellow hoop Jessica Valas expecting their first child, also rides promising type Avante (Westspeed 3YO, 55-68, 1000m handicap) and Portrait Lass (60-72, 1400m handicap).

Pike won the apprentice jockeys' title in the 2003-04 season before confirming his standing with senior premiership wins in 2006-07 and 2008-09.

Morton was catapulted into the national and international spotlight last year through the feats of Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast and iron tough galloper Scenic Shot.

Now back in Perth after the lengthy overseas stint with Scenic Blast, Morton was one of the big spenders at the recent Magic Millions Perth yearling sale, snaring eight yearlings, including an Exceed and Excel colt out of former Karrakatta Plate winner Born Priceless for $200,000. The colt was initially passed in.

It is unclear where the possible new combination leaves Jason Brown, who has been Morton's regular rider. Brown scored on Destino and was second on Nediyms Ruler in the MM Perth 2YO Classic for Morton at Ascot last Saturday week.

Pike's Hong Kong stint started fairly but finished in a blaze of glory, with a Group 3 win on Craig's Dragon in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at Sha Tin on January 10, the best of his 11 wins. He also rode 18 placegetters.

Another highlight was his stunning treble for trainer John Size on December 6, which was the turning point of his first international foray.

"He's really keen to get back into it quickly," Pike's racing manager Dale Verhagen said yesterday.

"Being away for the week (holiday), he hasn't taken any light ones (on Wednesday), but he'll get to the minimum pretty quickly. He's ridden for Dan before and hopefully we'll be doing more for him."

Verhagen said top jockey Paul Harvey, who he also manages, is three or four weeks away from returning from a fractured tibia and partial medial ligament tear to his left knee.

Harvey leads the jockeys' premiership with 36 1/2 wins from Alan Kennedy, who has 33.