Willie Pike needed a push from his wife to travel interstate

Willie Pike is living the life as the ultimate fly-in, fly-out jockey but the farm boy and noted homebody may never have left his home state without a prod from his partner.

The wizard of the west has scored four prized Victorian Group 1s this season and has this week jetted to the Gold Coast to partner 2020 Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes on Saturday.

But chances he would have remained at home riding in the west – and spending time tending to cows and fixing fences on his 1300-acre farm in Beaufort River about two hours south-east of Perth – if it wasn’t for his partner Jessica Valas.

Pike was worried about going away, concerned he would desperately miss his partner and kids, Jett, 10, and Aspen, 8, and his familiar home life.

But Valas, a former jockey turned trainer, convinced him to seize the moment.

“That’s how it mostly unfolded. I am probably happier at home and the little extra push from Jess is what made me go away and spend several months in Melbourne,” Pike said, while walking along a Gold Coast beach with his family on Thursday.

“The stint I did away in Melbourne was mainly off the back of Jess saying to me ‘you have to go’

“I’ve had a really good run and I’m grateful but are trainers going to want to have me as a fly-in, fly-out jockey in the future?

“I don’t know so I probably have to make the most of it while I can.”

William Pike is on the Gold Coast for Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes meeting. Picture: Nigel HallettSource:News Corp Australia

While the Gold Coast is known for its nightclubs and party atmosphere, Pike won’t be going anywhere near the famed Surfers Paradise nightclub strip while on the coast.

“Back Pike, Drink What You Like” has become a famous racing catchphrase but the jockey himself rarely touches alcohol.

When Pike was an apprentice, he swore to his master Jack Cockell that he would never drink or smoke and he has remained true to that vow apart from perhaps a once-a-year drink.

“When I was in high school we did plenty of camping and drinking on weekends and being clowns,” Pike said.

“But it just never really took my fancy and I was talking to my boss one day and I promised him I would never smoke or drink.

“I’ve stayed away from it since, me having a drink would be a once a year thing.”

Willie Pike (beaching it up on the Gold Coast) has a message for those in Warrnambool. @tabcomau@superracing@GCTurfClub@racing_qld@couriermail@[email protected]/c88JDBchZP

Valas, who was apprenticed to trainer Lindsey Smith in the mid 2000s when her relationship with Pike began, was keen to convince Pike to spread his wings and ride interstate when opportunities presented.

“I’m a bit of a homebody myself but being a jockey can be a limited profession, you don’t know how long you are going to be riding for,” Valas said.

“So I told him he just had to take the good opportunities when they came.

“He is really out of his comfort zone being away, but it has become a bit part and parcel of his life now.

“He is still really rounded and he hasn’t changed as a person.

“I watch all his rides and I will tell him what I think if I reckon he has ridden one badly.”

Willie Pike winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes on Masked Crusader at The Valley in March. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

So could there be another jockey in the Pike family tree?

Young Jett and Aspen both have ponies but it is Aspen who Pike thinks may have already fallen in love with the racing game.

“She’s a real goer – and she seems to love it,” Pike said.

“But my son is different, he says he wants to be a farmer.

“Any time if you ask him if he wants to be a jockey, just like his dad, you can see him wince.

“They can be whatever they want to be, as long as they are happy I don’t mind.”

One thing for sure is that Pike, a miner’s son who grew up in the an isolated town in WA’s goldfields, is happy in his own skin.

Exhilarating Group 1 success hasn’t changed him and the trappings of sporting fame and celebrity mean very little to him.

Originally published asPartner’s prod gets Pike out of his comfort zone

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