Parsons stable divided on top Guineas seed
Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons have a three-pronged attack in Saturday’s Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m), but key members of the stable cannot agree as to which of the trio is their leading hope.
While the unbeaten Jamie Richards trained runner Weaponry dominates the market as a $2 favourite, the Parsons representatives Fire Show ($7.50), Superstatic ($15) and Final Savings ($17) are all rated a strong each-way chance by online bookmakers.
“Everyone in the stable has got a different pick,” Karen Parsons said. “Chris (Johnson) has got one, Gos (Gosen Jagoo) has got one and I’ve got one.”
Fire Show hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to The Chosen One in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) in October and had previously been stakes-placed behind smart filly Xpression.
“He had a few issues, so we didn’t push on to the New Zealand Guineas. Everything went wrong, so we’ve come again fresh now and he is very forward, but we’ve got a horror draw (14) so it will be in the lap of the Gods. We’ll just have to leave it to Tina (Comignaghi).”
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Superstatic was an emphatic five-length maiden winner on Boxing Day at Wingatui in what was her second start for the Parsons having initially been trained by Margaret Falconer in Cambridge for her first six career starts.
“She’s just gone absolutely super down here and Gos just can’t see her being beaten,” Parsons said.
“She drew well (5) and she has got a good rider on in Reese Jones. Any rain will play right into her hands.”
Parsons said three-time placegetter Final Savings has made good improvement since racing fiercely when third at Omakau earlier in the month.
“He’s going super, he’s much stronger and I said to Rahul (Beeharry) just ride him cold like Kiwi Ida. Chris Johnson is quite adamant that he will do the job.”
Final Savings is out of the Parsons’ champion mare Final Touch, winner of three Group One races including the 2013 Telegraph Handicap (1200m).
The Parsons will saddle outsider Pippi Rea in this year’s rendition of the Telegraph, with Jake Bayliss to ride the $91 chance.
“He was unlucky in the Stewards (Group 3, 1200m), and we ruled a line through his run at Dunedin last start,” Parsons said. “He is really well, and a lot of the good horses drew out, so you’ve got to have a go.”
Meanwhile, Parsons also provided an update on injured rider Gosen Jogoo, who suffered a broken leg when he fell from Whitney, forcing the abandonment of the final race at Hokitika on Tuesday.
“I’ve just been talking to him and he is hoping he heals quickly,” she said. “The doctors are going to reassess him in a few weeks.
“It looked worse than how it turned out and he has a broken tibia.
“He has got a hoof mark on his back where a horse has obviously stood on him and he got that through a protective vest. So, he is bruised everywhere, and he won’t be weight-bearing for a while.”