Kembla, Taree previews: Parker’s ‘Verry’ good line-up at home

Ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 feature, which he won last year, trainer Kerry Parker on Tuesday saddles-up four leading players at his hometown card at Kembla Grange.

Trainer Kerry Parker celebrates after Nash Rawiller rode Think It Over to victory in the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

This time last year, Kerry Parker was plotting the downfall of ‘threes-on’ favourite Fangirl in the inaugural running of the Group 1 ATC Verry Elleegant Stakes over the famous Randwick mile.

Parker’s iron-horse Think It Over once again executed his familiar role as ‘giant killer’, turning the tables on Fangirl from their Apollo Stakes clash three weeks prior.

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“I really wanted to win a Group 1 with him at his comeback so I targeted him to be cherry ripe second-up,’’ Parker recalled.

“I was absolutely thrilled to get the result and at that stage, not knowing that was going to be his last win.’’

Think It Over’s 14th win came in the same month as he would line-up for his 42nd and ultimately last start, finishing an honourable fourth in Via Sistina’s Ranvet Stakes.

Life after racing for Think It Over is a lot less competitive but no less pleasurable for the horse who retired with earnings of circa $8.5 million.

The King of Kembla!
Think It Over causes an upset in the TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kxw8NE7hR5

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 2, 2024

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“He’s just out being a hack,’’ Parker said.

“Someone’s got him out at Denman near Scone. They’re just out riding him around

“I get little update videos here and there and he seems to be loving life.”

The stakes at Tuesday’s Kembla meeting are considerably lower by Think It Over’s lofty standards but Parker is no less eager to see his quartet – Double Rainbow, Audenzia, Take You There and Happy Saturday – in the thick of the action.

Parker has crafted a favourable scenario for the baldy-faced Audenzia to post her first win when she opens her 2025 campaign the Jim Carey Midway Maiden Handicap (1500m).

“I would have liked a little bit of rain around for her, I think that would have helped her, but she is going terrific,’’ Parker reported.

“While she is nice and fresh and going good, I think that’s a nice starting point for her.

“She’s only had the couple of starts and really matured with that last preparation under her belt, she’s come back a lot more switched on this preparation.’’

Proven Thoroughbreds mare Take You There meanwhile is aiming for her second career win – her first came on debut at Kembla where she charged past the subsequent city-winner Oh Diamond Lil.

“She was a little bit ordinary first-up but did pull up with a bit of a bug,” Parker revealed.

“Last start at Newcastle, she just sort of had to get back a little bit but kept finding the line really good so I think the step to 1500m should suit her

“And back on her home track, I think she can run well again.

“She has to keep improving, there is a little bit more class in this race but she if she races up to her work, I think she can put herself in the finish.’’

Parker will break out another set of familiar silks when BK Racing and Breeding’s Irish-import Happy Saturday makes his ‘stable debut’ in the Pacific Plan Management Handicap.

“He’s only had an 800m jumpout since I’ve had him but he seems nice and well in himself.

“I don’t mind him.

“I’ll learn more about him on race day but geez, I wouldn’t let him go around with nothing on him that’s for sure, I think he can run a cheeky race from what he is showing me at home.’’

Parker will take the opportunity of a home-meeting on Tuesday to take the wraps off the well-bred debutante Double Rainbow.

“She has shown me a bit in her trial and jumpouts,’’ Parker says.

“She seems to jump out of the gates fine and from there, she has shown enough gate speed that she will hold her own and put herself handy.’’

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

WILKES TAKES SIX-PACK TO TAREE

Trainer Wayne Wilkes has six runners accepted for Taree on Tuesday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Wayne Wilkes will soon make his seemingly annual pilgrimage to Royal Randwick for the Country Championships Final on April 5, but until then, it is business as usual for the Taree trainer.

Wilkes, the father of a trainer (Joel), jockey (Shae) and the son of a breeder (Reg), has a busy day ahead at Taree with a half-dozen runners to saddle-up across the seven-race card.

According to the man himself, the best of the six is Mischievous Molly who resumes in the Sky International Benchmark 66 Handicap (1250m).

Wilkes’ own $12,000 HTBA Yearling sale acquisition in 2021, Mischievous Molly has finished on the podium seven times in her 11 starts.

On top of that, the daughter of the now Indonesia-based stallion Sooboog has three placings from four runs at home.

“From barrier one if she gets a little luck and a bit of room in the straight, she could be hard to beat,’’ Wilkes said.

Mischievous Molly will be ridden for the first time on Tuesday by the aforementioned Shae Wilkes, who played a pivotal role in ensuring Sumo Fish’s Country Championships ambitions with a win in the MNC Heat at Port Macquarie nine-days ago.

“She is very well weighted for her,’’ (Wayne) Wilkes said. “ I think she’s got plenty of upside to her.

‘She’ll get over a bit more ground but she is first-up fresh with no trial.’’

Wilkes can take all the credit should King Larry post what would be his third win at start six today given he bred the son of the vastly underrated Taree based stallion, Sebring Sun.

King Larry proves he is King on debut!
A tight win in the third at Taree for @Wilkes_Racing. pic.twitter.com/1agOV73XSN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 9, 2024

“(King Larry) is probably still learning what he has got to do,’’ Wilkes said.

“If he ever concentrates on what has got to do, he’ll be a really handy horse.’’

Wilkes has won his fair share of Highways and while he judges the Taree-bound Wandjad as good enough to win one, the looming carnival will more or less see the Highways go into an extended hiatus.

“He was probably unlucky at Scone last start,’’ Wilkes says. “He was caught wide and things just didn’t pan out for him.

“So he probably comes into this race a little bit under the radar.’’

As for the soon to be $1 million ATC Country Championships Final (1400m) participant Sumo Fish, she’ll have a trial run down A1 from Taree to Sydney next month.

Originally published as Kembla, Taree previews: Parker’s ‘Verry’ good line-up at home