The champion Perth jockey is hoping it will be even better the second time around after deciding to base himself in Bendigo for the spring carnival.

It's a move that places the 34-year-old just a short distance from Sutton Grange, where leading Perth trainer Grant Williams has set up camp with his team of spring hopefuls, at Brent Stanley's Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds complex.

Pike, who needed to complete a two-week quarantine period when he arrived in Victoria, returned to the saddle for one ride at Geelong last Friday, before partnering the Williams-trained Regal Power and Showmanship at Caulfield on Saturday.

It did not take long for him to open his Melbourne spring account, thundering to victory in the final race at Caulfield aboard Showmanship.

Punters have become accustomed to backing Pike's mount in the last race at Perth - on this occasion they were glad to see him pull through on the other side of the country.

The Western Australian branded his Saturday as 'a mixed bag' after Regal Power had earlier finished down the field in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

"Regal Power, he raced a little bit upside down, but his first-up form is generally not his best, so I'm not too concerned. But he didn't quite put his best foot forward," was Pike's assessment.

"I think he will really take a lot out of that run - I think he needed that to settle in and get himself back into a routine of racing again.

"Then there was Showmanship, who I can't say enough good things about. He made me look good on the day.

"He was back and a bit wide, but he's a good horse on the up and really took the reins and said I'll show you how it's done."

The spotlight for Team Williams now turns to the Victorian debut of the talented four-year-old Windstorm, who is nominated at Moonee Valley on Saturday, and is a winner of five of six starts back at home.

Pike said Bendigo continued to hold good memories for him following his popular win aboard the Michael Moroney-trained Top Of The Range in last year's Bendigo Cup, which in turn inspired his decision to be based here.

"Grant's horses are set up not that far out from Bendigo, so I thought it would be a perfect fit," he said.

"I can keep an eye on the horses, but there's also the fact I've been here before and had a good time.

"(Before 2019) I hadn't been to Bendigo before, but I was lucky enough to get a call for a good ride and it all turned out alright.

"It's a lovely memory. It's a wonderful track. It's really wide open and it rides well.

"I haven't got to ride on it this time, but I will. It would be nice to pick up a few rides while I'm here and ride a few winners.

"The Cup itself was an entertaining race, I was sort of back and stuck in a pocket, but managed to somehow come out of it with a win."

Early plans were for Pike to target the Bendigo Cup again with Top Of The Range, but with the seven-year-old gelding being retired early last week, he hopes another ride can be secured.

Top on his list of priorities is the $5.25m W. S. Cox Plate.

Based in Bendigo until at least early November, Pike, who has two rides at Pakenham on Tuesday and four at Sandown on Wednesday, has already started plotting part of his exit back to Perth.

The record-breaking jockey is in the market for a new Isuzu D-MAX to drive while in Victoria, and plans to drive it back to Western Australia when he leaves.

"Hopefully I can boost the local economy up a bit and buy a vehicle," he said.

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