Jockey Joshua Parr will be cheering from the grandstand after he had to give up the ride on last start winner Euryale at Rosehill tomorrow after he couldn’t get down to the filly’s weight.
Joshua Parr rode Euryale to victory at Rosehill over 1900m on June 30 - photo © Steve Hart
Parr rode the Peter Snowden trained Euryale to score at Rosehill over 1900m on June 30 with 57kg and admits that he was never a chance to get down to the 53.5kg she was allocated in the Benchmark 90 Nova 969 Fitzy and Wippa Handicap over 1800m.
“It would have been nice to ride her again but unfortunately she only got 53.5kg,” Parr said.
“I definitely couldn’t have got down to that weight.”
Lightweight jockey Nathan Berry has taken over from Parr on Euryale and the three year old is aiming for her third win since returning from an unsuccessful trip to Brisbane for the Carnival when ninth to Brambles in the Group 3 $150,000 Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on May 26.
The Lonhro filly looks very well weighted and has opened up the $3.30 favourite just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Thumbtacks at $4.40.
Thumbtacks is stepping up to 1800m after winning over 1500m on a heavy 10 at Rosehill on June 16 after being placed at Warwick Farm and Rosehill.
Parr is confident Euryale has the goods to win after beating the older horses two starts back with Kerrin McEvoy and then winning again for Parr with 57kg.
“Everything worked out nicely and it helps when they are going that well to be able to ride them that well,” Parr said.
“Whether she is the type of horse to back up I’m not sure, but she did it so easily I can’t see why she wouldn’t be able to because it didn’t take anything pout of her.”
Parr has retained the ride on Soledad in the Benchmark 80 Tabsportsbet 3yo Handicap (1300m) and is hoping to get some compensation from the Snowden stable.
The Commands three year old was able to score narrowly over 1200m at Warwick Farm at his second run back from a spell from subsequent Rosehill winner Malavio and Parr is happy to be back on coming up against stable mate Bello.
“The form has been strong, he’s raced against Malavio both times this prep,” Parr said.
“I ride him a lot in track work, his work has been strong since that run and I’m pleased to be back on him.”
Parr is not worried about stepping up to 1300m and said he would be able to get a position midfield from barrier eight in the nine horse field.
“I’ll be able to ride him anywhere in the field,” Parr said.
“I’ll be able to find a position on him and just getting him to stretch off the run is the key to him.”
“I can’t see the distance being a problem, he was strong there last time and he came off the back of a hot speed and was able to accelerate and find the line.”
Soledad is on the third line off betting at $4.60 with stable mate Bello heading the market at $2.80 just ahead of Chris Waller trained Nocturnelle at $3.50.
