Pike secured Lane's services for Surely Sacred (who races in the same Raffles Racing colours as Sacred Elixir) when the Rock 'N' Pop three-year-old made his Australian debut in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last start.
Surely Sacred drew wide when he finished fourth, five and a half lengths behind the boom three-year-old The Autumn Sun, on a rain-sodden Rosehill track and Pike is hoping for a better draw for the Derby.
"He had to make a long-sustained run and the way the track was playing he almost got there too soon,'' Pike said. ''He was off the bridle the last bit and just ground away.
''It's been the same in his last three runs. He's had to make long sustained runs. But if he gets a good draw and can race a bit handier, he can be held up for the last crack at them. He sprints very quickly.''
Pike is happy with Surely Sacred's progress since the Rosehill Guineas and is confident he will be right in the firing line over the final stages of Saturday's Australian Derby.
''He had a quiet hit-out on Saturday morning and will gallop on the course proper on Tuesday,'' Pike said.
''Hopefully there's not too much more rain in Sydney, but Randwick does hold up better than Rosehill and it is the first day of the carnival."- NZ Racing Desk
