Kerry Parker and the south coast team are enjoying one of those runs. The type that ensures early morning wake-ups and long days are carried out enthusiastically.
The casual work rider trains 18 thoroughbreds out of Kembla Grange and the horses are rewarding those paying the bills and those dedicated to their health.
From his last six runners Parker has led in four winners. Making it all the better is each race has been won by a different horse.
Lad About Town won at Kembla on June 8, Such A Princess won at Canterbury on June 19, Butcher Boy at Newcastle last Saturday while Planet Purple won on the same day at Randwick.
“The stable is going good,” Parker said on Friday.
“Like anything, you need luck to go your way, bad barriers, running in unsuitable races, things like that don’t help.
“You don’t do anything different with the horse you just need a bit of luck.
“The difference with Planet Purple, if he was in the fourth at Randwick last Saturday he doesn’t win, he was in the first event.
“That’s as easy as it gets, they called the races off after the third and we’d already won.”
As Parker pointed out winning “makes it easy to get out of bed each morning” for there are winners to be put through their paces.
Those like Lad About Town which goes round in the first at Rosehill on Saturday.
“He was supposed to go round in town on Tuesday but they were washed out,” Parker said.
“It was a nice race for him but you go into a Saturday race now with the fingers crossed, you hope he is good enough.”
The two-year-old was found by Parker’s team at last year’s William Classic Sale and purchased for $14,000.
“Colin Branthwaite actually spotted him and asked me to come and have a look,” Parker said.
“He was a nice horse, definitely got him on the cheap, out of a Redoute’s Choice mare and he is definitely developing into a nice one.”
Having been purchased out of the famed Newmarket sale ring Lad About Town was aimed at Inglis bonus races at his first two starts.
“They were probably a bit sharp for him early on but he got some education out of it,” Parker said.
“He returned to win at Kembla last start, he was left in front a bit early but he was strong.
“I suppose he thought the game was over, he started waiting for his mates but when they levelled up he dug deep to win.”
The Kembla surfaced was rated dead and a heavy track awaits tomorrow.
“A bog track, no idea, but he is a developing horse and he has a future,” Parker said.
The future for Planet Purple might well a trip to Eagle Farm on Saturday for a 3200m cup.
“He pulled up really, really well from the 2600m run,” Parker said.
“The concern is he is not the best traveller but it may do him the world of good. If not he can go back to one in town, a 2400m benchmark race.”
By Craig Young
