Team Hiflyer sticking with Parkes
Loyalty runs deep with Peter Lock and the owners of the Australian-bound Hiflyer.
The Te Aroha trainer confirmed the Wanganui-based jockey Johnathan Parkes will continue his association with the multiple Group-winning son of Tavistock when he runs at Rosehill on Saturday week.
“Johnathan has gone out of his way for me and the syndicate and twice he’s driven all the way up to Ruakaka to ride the horse,” Lock said.
“We want to be loyal to Johnathan so he will definitely have the ride.”
Hiflyer will cross the Tasman early next week to make his Australian debut in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m).
“He’s going over to Sydney on Monday night and will be stabled at Randwick with Peter Robl,” Lock said.
“He’s got great facilities and he can ride him in work as well. “It depends what happens in his first race, that will tell the story. He could come back and get ready for the Tarzino Trophy at Hawke’s Bay or if he’s going really well over there he may have another run.
“If we left him there a bit longer we would bypass the first day at Hawke’s Bay and come back for the mile (the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate) on the second day.”
Lock said they were doing everything they could this week to get Hiflyer ready for his overseas venture.
“We’ve got him on Australian feed, but he’s not overly happy. The vet said it would take a while to get over the change and he is getting better.”
Events at Te Rapa on Saturday will decide whether Hiflyer, who won his last start under 61.5kg over 1200m at Ruakaka, has a travelling partner. “He’ll probably be accompanied by Dougie if he goes really well this weekend,” Lock said.