Jockey Brad Parnham will take over riding trainer Fred Kersley's talented filly Ihtsatune when the youngster aims for a family double in Saturday's $250,000 Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic (1100m) at Ascot.

Ihtsatune, a half-sister to the Kersley-trained 2007 Magic Millions Classic winner Jestatune, ran an impressive second with Daniel Staeck aboard in last Saturday's Westspeed Plate (1100m).

Parnham, 21, picked up the Ihtsatune mount when Staeck decided yesterday to ride first-up runner Leamington for Bob McPherson.

"I'm sure we can take advantage of barrier three, settle close-up and finish strongly on Saturday," Parnham said. "Fred Kersley is a top trainer and it's good to get feature event opportunities on his horses.

"I've never ridden Ihtsatune in races or trackwork, but I've watched her. She looks a potential stayer who could relax behind leaders and keep fighting on over final stages.

"Ihtsatune should have gained valuable experience in three races and I'm sure she'll be ready to show peak form."

Parnham is an accomplished rider of young gallopers and in 2008 he won the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate-$175,000 WA Sires' Produce Stakes double on then two-year-old Brava Fortune.

Leamington bounced into Magic Millions classic calculations when winning a Lark Hill barrier trial by five lengths last Monday week.

But noted big-race rider Patrick Carbery's unbeaten mount Time To Climb seems certain to be favourite when Player posts an opening market.

Carbery last season won the $1 million Railway Stakes on Gilded Venom and the Karrakatta Plate with Gold Rocks. He rode Ravinia to win the 2006 Magic Millions for Time To Climb's trainer Trevor Andrews.

Andrews spelled Time To Climb after a Belmont Park win on debut last October and she won stylishly over 1000m at Ascot when resuming last Saturday week.

Trainer Dan Morton has booked jockey Jason Brown to resume riding promising colt Nediyms Ruler, who drew barrier one.

• Magic Millions riding engagements: *Totteridge Green 2 A Kennedy; Durrah's Secret 14 C Chatfield; Nediyms Ruler 1 J Brown; Leamington 5 D Staeck 56.0; Time To Climb 4 P Carbery; Hot Tamale 9 T Turner; Absolute Pleasure 15 J Whiting; Kiddy Cat 8 S McGruddy; Ihtsatune 3 B Parnham; Sandfire 10 W O'Connell; Street Image 13 S Parnham; Ortessa 7 P Knuckey; I've Got Rhythm 6 C Harvey; Danzmait 12 Danny Miller 54.0. Beach Express (Em) 11 P King 56.0.