Ranger flies flag after Belle tipped out
A decision to spell Belmont Sprint and Hyperion Stakes winner Elite Belle has left a big hole in Saturday's $125,000 Strickland Stakes (2000m).
Owners Bob and Sandra Peters chose to spell the $477,300 earner after her narrow win over Ranger in last Saturday week's Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont Park.
Ranger, now in the stables of Adam Durrant, will give the Peters their sole chance of winning the Group 3 weight-for-age feature, after trainer Grant Williams last night scratched stablemates Ultimate Success and Success Story, reducing the field to 10 runners.
Steven Parnham reunites with Bridgestone in the Strickland, after his brother Brad, who rode the stayer first-up in the Hyperion, chose to stick with Fancy Feet and younger brother Chris kept the ride on Grand Nirvana following his vastly-improved third in the Hyperion.
Trainer Fred Kersley has kept fellow apprentice Mitchell Pateman on Operational, after he was successful on the gelding over 2200m last Saturday.
Steven Parnham tuned up for the weekend when he rode nine horses at trackwork yesterday morning. It was his first day in the saddle after sustaining severe bruising to his left leg in a fall at Pinjarra on June 5.
"I rode four at Ascot and then went to Belmont and rode five," Parnham said.
"It was good because it gave me peace of mind that I am ready to come back to race riding.
"I was trodden on and had a tear to my quad muscle and corkage."
Parnham has picked up six rides on Saturday, with his best chance appearing to be On The Ropes. His other rides are Zuccheros, Pure Adrenalin, Zanughan and Matching Motors.
·Owners of fillies and mares will be offered up to $15,000 to have them covered by a WA stallion in a new form of the Westspeed Scheme, starting August 1.
Racing and Wagering WA will pay the full advertised service fee up to $15,000 for any filly or mare, who wins at Group level in WA, at her maiden season at stud to go to a nominated WA stallion.
A subsidy of up to $7500 will be paid for fillies and mares winning WA Listed races.
Stallion owners have until the start of the breeding season on September 1 to pay a fee equivalent to their advertised service fee or a minimum of $5000, whichever is greater, to nominate their stallion.
"I rode four at Ascot and then went to Belmont and rode five … I am ready to come back ..." " *Steven Parnham *
