"It looked a nice option for him and outside of Melbourne it's a tier down," Pike said. "The club was keen to get him there when taking into account his form around Melody Belle and Te Akau Shark and they've paid all the transport as well as some other costs."
Endless Drama beat Te Akau Shark (second) and Melody Belle (fourth) in the Foxbridge Plate before finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), won by Melody Belle.
"He was caught wide in the Tarzino and we battled foot problems with him from there on," Pike said. "He's been off for a while, but he goes well fresh, and as long as he gets a reasonable draw, he should be a big chance."
The Winterbottom Stakes field will include the James Cummings-trained Trekking, to whom Endless Drama finished third in the Group 1 Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Trekking has since won the Group 2 Schillaci (1100m) at Caulfield in October before finishing third to Yes Yes Yes in the A$14 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick and a last-start second to Pierata in the A$1 million Redzel Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
"Endless Drama will probably start second or third favourite behind Trekking," Pike said. "Trekking has been to a few dances so hopefully he's getting a bit tired and we can beat him fresh-up."
Endless Drama has settled in well at Simon Miller's stable, but it hasn't been all smooth sailing for him since he left New Zealand for Melbourne. His onward flight from Melbourne to Perth last week was delayed because of a fuel leak.
"He was all set to go when it happened, so he went back to the stables," Pike said. "He's so laid back, it didn't worry him. After all, he's been all around the world."
Endless Drama won twice in Ireland, raced in England, chased champion Winx home when third in the 2017 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and won the feature the following year before transferring to Pike last March.
Endless Drama will fly out of Perth a few days after the Winterbottom Stakes and could be back at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, with Pike considering freshening him for the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m), while the other option is to wait for the Group 1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 18.
"We'll just see how he does when he gets home," Pike said. "If he needs longer, he'll wait for the Telegraph and flag the Railway."
The Sistema Railway is also being considered for Kali, who finished sixth behind winning stablemate Loire in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
"We're playing with a few options for Kali," Pike said.
"She could go into the Railway fresh-up or go for the Levin Classic [Group 1, 1600m] at Trentham in January. She'll only get 51.5kg in the Railway and 3-year-olds haven't a bad record in it.
"She's having a short break now and will be back in the stable next Wednesday."
Pike said it's best to overlook Kali's 1000 Guineas effort.
"They stood in the gates for a long time and she got upset and hit the front of the gates and got a blood nose," he said. "That put her out the back and she had too much to do. She was supposed to be in front or outside the leader."
- NZ Racing Desk
