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Live sport on SN this weekendPike chasing dual Island stakes success
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • November 14th, 2025 2:00 pm
Agera will contest the Gr.2 Gartshore Construction Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. Photo: Jane Davidson (Race Images)
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will be chasing stakes success at both ends of the country on Saturday, with Agera leading his northern charge at Tauranga.
The six-year-old son of Complacent has been in a purple patch of form of late, winning five of his last seven starts, including last month’s Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).
He went on to win the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau and will now get the opportunity to shoot for further stakes success when he steps back to a mile in the Gr.2 Gartshore Construction Tauranga Stakes (1600m).
The Bay of Plenty feature wasn’t initially on the cards for Agera, however, wet weather is luring Pike across the Kaimai Range to tackle the Group Two.
“We probably didn’t have this race on the radar but with the rain that came through the week, that is really going to suit him come Saturday,” Pike said.
“He is obviously stepping up to weight-for-age company, but outside of Ladies Man it is probably not the strongest weight-for-age race.
“I thought he deserved his chance, he has drawn well (3), and the form that he is in he should be a genuine each way chance again.”
Following Saturday, Agera’s main aim will be the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) where he will be chasing the $50,000 winner takes all bonus up for grabs in the inaugural Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series.
“We are just trying to get him to the Taupo Cup,” Pike said. “He is well ahead in the Country Cups series and just needs to run in the Taupo Cup at this stage to win that.
“We will look to give him one more mile post Saturday’s race as a lead-up to the Taupo Cup on the 28th of December.”
Pike will also be chasing stakes success in Christchurch on Saturday with Slipper Island, who will back-up in the Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) after running fourth in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival.
“His run on the first day was really good over the 1000m. His sectionals were outstanding,” Pike said.
“The favourite, Platinum Attack, is extremely well-weighted under the conditions of the race and is going to be hard to beat, but he (Slipper Island) will improve off last Saturday and the 1200m will suit. I would say he will be right in the finish.”
Pike was contemplating a tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on the Riccarton card with stablemate Happy Youmzain but has elected to stay closer to home with the gelding who will head to Tauranga on Saturday to contest the Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach 3YO (1400m).
“We gave consideration about sending him south for the Guineas,” Pike said. “We have elected to leave him up here for this race heading into the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m). He has drawn ideally in one, is a talented three-year-old and should run well.”
Pike will also be represented at Tauranga by Boss ‘N’ Highheels in the Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing 1200.
“She is fresh-up off a good barrier trial,” Pike said. “She is another one that has drawn well (1). It is a strong rating 75 race, but if she can bring her trial form fresh-up into Saturday hopefully she is a place chance.”
