Briefs for 15th September 2014

Parkes staying loyal to Ransomed; Boss likes Kiwi stayer’s style; Top-notch double for Mastercraftsman

Parkes staying loyal to Ransomed

Johnathon Parkes is sticking to what he knows best at Hastings this weekend.

The leading jockey will continue his long and successful association with Ransomed in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

Parkes has ridden the Handsome Ransom gelding in all but two of his last 15 starts and last season they combined to win the Gr.1 Spring Classic, a title they will defend in the Livamol-sponsored feature on October 4.

“I was always going to stick with him for the last day so it made sense to ride him on Saturday as well,” he said.

“He’s following the same programme as last year and I was more than happy with his run at Wanganui where he had 60.5kg in the sprint.

“He had an exhibition gallop at Awapuni on Saturday over half a mile and he’s going well.”

Parkes rode the unplaced Survived in the opening leg of the Triple Crown series, the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes, and he also expected that horse to improve with the outing.

The Kelly Burne-trained contender will be partnered on Saturday by Vinnie Colgan, who is keen on a full-time return to New Zealand from Brisbane by Christmas.

Boss likes Kiwi stayer’s style

Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hopeful Who Shot Thebarman impressed his champion Melbourne jockey Glen Boss with the style of his first Australian victory.

The Auckland Cup winner opened his account in his third appearance for Chris Waller with a stylish win under 60kg at Flemington on Saturday.

“I thought it was very impressive, especially the last hundred metres,” Boss said.

“He was getting away from them with every bound and there was some quality opposition behind him. It wasn’t an ordinary Saturday 2000-metre event.”

Who Shot Thebarman is 48th in the Caulfield Cup ballot order with 51.5kg and weights for the Melbourne Cup to be released on Tuesday.

Waller’s Melbourne stable representative Justine Hales was also taken by the win of the lightly raced six-year-old.

“He’s entered for the cups so I’d assume they will try to head that way,” she said.

Top-notch double for Mastercraftsman

Former Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Mastercraftsman enjoyed a double European Group One strike at the weekend.

His son Kingston Hill took out the final classic of the English flat racing season, the Gr.1 St Leger at Doncaster, and just hours later The Grey Gatsby caused a major upset when he downed the dual Derby winner Australia in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Kingston Hill beat second-place Romsdal and Snow Sky to give both trainer Roger Varian and jockey Andrea Atzeni their first Classic win.

Varian indicated a tilt at the Gr.1 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp was now on the cards for the three-year-old, who had finished second to Australia in both the English and Irish Derby’s earlier in the season