All Brave was all out to win at Belmont on Wednesday and his connections had Willie Pike to thank for a flawless ride in the Furphy Hcp (1400m).
Presented with a lapful of horse, Pike settled the 3yo son of All American in the running line before securing a run on the inside of Vitai Lampada and then getting on the back of Missile Launch into the straight.
All Brave (Photo / Western Racdepix) did the rest although the finish was a nail-biter with No Peer (Nicconi). “I thought we got beat,” co-trainer Dan Pearce confessed. “He has a fair share of ability and that will give him plenty of confidence.”
All Brave won on debut in Goldfields last month and was right up to the task in town. “We sent him up to Kal for an easy kill and to trim some weight. He was with Dion Luciani and getting the condition off had been a struggle.”
Wednesday’s latest collect kept his record intact and connections have banked $54,528 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses. He cost $40,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions for a syndicate that includes Luciani, Geoff Evans (Distinctive Racing) and breeder-vendor Eddie Rigg (Geisel Park).
Rigg had purchased his dam Tenko (NZ) for $15,000 at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne. The Shinko King mare had won up to 2100m as well as being stakes-placed across the Tasman.
Tenko was carrying Devine Beast (Magnus) who won three times in the Goldfields for Geisel Park and bowed out with a close third in the KBRC Tattersalls Cup (1600m) in August 2022. Her third foal Celestial Fox (All American) is a 2yo filly with Luciani and is due to resume after a one-start summer prep. Tenko was covered by King Of Athens (USA) last October.
All American (Red Ransom) stands for a $4,400 fee at Geisel Park alongside Manhattan Rain ($8,250) and they have been joined by Aysar ($8,800) this season. All fees (inc GST).
