Racing

OLD FIRM DELIVER FOR REG

Steven Parnham is always worth listening to and observing.

There is an innate decency to the eldest of three jockey sons of Carolyn and Neville Parnham and it was on display yesterday after he had triumphed in the Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m).

There was a quiet sense of achievement by the jockey after he landed the Fred Kersley trained galloper, Ihtsahymn, by one length  from Dubai Escapade and Zarantz, after coming from last on the turn.

Parnham’s reflective nature was understandable because he had just ended an 819 day drought for the quality grey Group I winner of the 2013 Kingston Town Classic.

Not only that but Parnham, as he said, in his post race presentation speech, was also considering Ihtsahymn’s owner, Reg Webb, recovering in hospital from heart surgery.

Webb would have loved the way Parnham was content to bowl along at the rear before bringing his charge home down the outside with a stirring finish that brushed aside the opposition like a charging member of the Lighthorse at Beersheba.

It was shades of the grey’s three year old season when he scored in such quality events as the WA Guineas, Kingston Town Classic and CB Cox Stakes all in the space of a month.

Then after winning the Melvista Stakes (late March 2014) the grey’s form fell away and an equally unsuccessful Victorian campaign followed.

Form can be an ephemeral thing in all sports, including racehorses and jockeys, and Parnham never oversells the quality moments because he too remembers the lows, such as race falls, that batter not only the body but also rider confidence.

But it was clear speaking with Parnham and noting his typical thoughtful and modest reactions he was savouring the return to form of a million dollar plus grey earner and the fact he had won for an ailing owner with whom he has had a long association. The summer carnival beckons and rich plums may again be on the cards. Fred Kersley dares to think grand things again too.

Parnham’s association with owner and trainer is clearly shown in the statistics. He has ridden Ihtsahymn in all eight wins (from 32 starts) for $1, 110,150 in prize money and has a similar impressive record aboard Webb’s favourite grey, Ask Me Nicely (now retired).

Of the eight races that galloper won in WA , (he also won two in the East before coming here), Parnham scored on the first six of them. ( Shaun O’Donnell was aboard for Ask Me Nicely’s inaugural victory in the WA Cup (3200m) and later the Boulder Cup).

So in a day of great racing, and a record breaking achievements by champion rider William Pike, the return to form of the ‘old firm,’ including the quiet decency of Steven Parnham, was also a highlight to savour.

Racing

CALM RIDE PREVAILS ON STORM

Lisa Staples did everything right in landing Dusty Storm a winner at Belmont yesterday in the first race (1300m).

Originally from barrier one the petite blonde rider planned to lead but when General Husson (Troy Turner) and Speed Bandit (Natasha Faithfull) came across to surge forward early the former Swedish jockey was happy to yield to that duo.

“Troy’s horse was pulling so I was happy to sit,” she said.

Staples closeted her mount in behind the leader waiting for the right moment to use the cut away rail to her advantage in the home straight.

That is precisely what happened, although momentarily Turner’s mount also looked like rolling on her as she pushed up on the inside. However, General Husson was straightened by Turner and  the pair fought out a spirited duel.

But at the post Dusty Storm was clearly going the better while the fast finishing Royal Missile (Peter Knuckey) edged General Husson out of second place.

Trainer Paul Jordan said Staples who does the track work on the horse had replaced regular rider Ryan (Boy ) Hill currently in England, after a short suspension. “Lisa has been a good rider at provincial meetings, and is better looking than that other Staples,” (her jockey husband, Craig, who also rides for the trainer).

Jordan’s comments are backed up by the statistics. Of her 48 winning rides this season, (at an 11 per cent strike rate) 43 have been on provincial tracks.

Doubles

Senior riders Pat Carbery and William Pike both had winning doubles at the mid week fixture.

Carbery was successful aboard Atlantic Blue and Patrimonio while Pike closed in on Paul Harvey’s record of 116.5 metropolitan wins in a season, scoring on Entrechat and Angelic Angel, respectively.

Pike needs only two more wins, to establish that new record, in what appears a fait accompli, given that the current season does not finish before the end of July.

Racing

UPBEAT ABOUT UPTOWN

Trainer Justine Erkelens and jockey Shaun O’Donnell continued their good recent form together when Uptown Funk made it three wins from her last four starts, at Belmont yesterday.

In an arrogant ride, by O’Donnell, the filly overpowered favourite, and pacemaker, Beaucount, in the last stride to win the fifth race, (1200m) by a short head. Kentucky Lass was third.

Erkelens did not race Uptown Funk as a two year old but as a three year old the filly, described as ‘naughty’ by the trainer, has really run into good form.

O’Donnell said he was in two minds on the home turn whether to stay on the inside or switch to the outside before deciding on the latter. “If she had got held up she would have been beaten. “It is knowing what you have got under you,” he said.

O’Donnell said the filly was a real grinder and he expected her to appreciate more ground and progress further.

In a week when the mercurial rider said good bye to champion Luckygray (retired), his favourite galloper, O’Donnell said he still got a buzz from winning for new owners as well as for trainers like Erkelens, with whom he has had a long association. “I was riding for Justine when she had a couple of camels running around. She has been loyal to me and I have been to her.”

Erkelens has had five winners this month, on city and provincial tracks, including doubles at Northam and Belmont with O’Donnell on four of them.

One of Ekelens other riders, Peter Knuckey finished the day ‘with a wet sail,’ by landing a double in the last two races with Our Finest Moment and Bonnie Zara, respectively.

Knuckey ignored instructions, to get off the fence as soon as possible, aboard the Raquel Mills trained Our Finest Moment. Having drawn barrier one Knuckey’s previous knowledge of ultimate runner-up, Muskets At Dawn, was instrumental in the win.

Knuckey knew he would lay off the rails, around the turn, and when he did the jockey pushed Our Finest Moment along the fence to victory.

In the last race, in a three way thriller, Knuckey on Bonny Zara just edged out Ellie Cockram, aboard Hedlander Boy (rails), with Lucy Warwick (centre), a whisker away, in third place, on Ready to Fire.