Parkes preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Jockey Kody Nestor is banking on the toughness and consistency of Lockdown Gamble to overcome his big weight and wide gate in the Parkes Cup.

Adam Sherry previews Parkes on Sunday.

Jockey Kody Nestor was successful on the Parkes Cup from a wide barrier two years ago and he hopes history can repeat when he partners Lockdown Gamble in this year’s edition.

In 2023, Nestor partnered the Mack Griffith-trained up and comer Osman to a three length win from barrier 10 – the outside gate.

Nestor and Lockdown Gamble have the outside gate in this year’s Parkes Cup (1600m) - barrier 14 of 14 – but will jump from barrier 12 under his big weight of 63kg.

“I haven’t ridden him in a race before but I have seen plenty of him,” said Nestor.

“Obviously, he has to lump it again and he has drawn wide but he is the proven galloper in the field.

“He’s won a Wellington Cup which is a Big Dance Qualifier. The Parkes Cup which is more of a second tier country cup.

LOCKDOWN GAMBLE wins the Wellington Cup!

Consolation from the Country Championships for @DJSRacing6 as Lockdown Gamble survives a protest from Danish Prince to win the @WellingtonRaces Cup and earn Big Dance 💃 eligibility. Sizzle Minizzle ran a close third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/97SAXrNp0h

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 14, 2024

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“He looks the one to beat on paper, no doubt.”

The David Smith-trained gelding heads into the race in terrific form. He resumed this campaign with third to Osman in the Mudgee Cup on February 23 and his next run at Mudgee last Sunday when he won the Benchmark 82 over 1400m with 63kg.

“It was a good, tough win the other day with a big weight,” Nestor said.

“He’s got a couple of things against him – his big weight and wide barrier- but he has the class to overcome them.

“His greatest attributes are his last 100m to a furlong along with his toughness and consistency.”

Nestor was pleased with the first-up run of Kora Magic at Dubbo two weeks ago and partners the mare again when she contests the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

The Mark Jones-trained mare led from barrier 11 and was only caught in the last 20m to finish third behind Cumnock and Twilight Rock.

“She was just beaten the other day first-up without a barrier trial. I thought she was really game,” he said.

“She had a good blow coming back in so she is going to improve off that run.

“We have drawn wide again but she has the early pace to offset the gate. I expect her to lead easily and with the circumference of Parkes, it will be a lot easier on her than Dubbo.

The Mark Jones trained Kora Magic gives
Ronald Simpson an early race to race double! pic.twitter.com/dJ6LccYIqW

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 5, 2023

“Dubbo is a very open track and you are exposed a long way from home whereas at Parkes, you can skip off the corner and it’s not the longest run home.

“She will be thereabouts in the finish again.”

Nestor and Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive have enjoyed a couple of winners together in recent months including Just Go Bang in the Gilgandra Cup and combine with two good chances this weekend.

Sooboogeliscious has been just behind the placegetters in two runs back from a spell and looks ready to peak in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).

“It’s a nice competitive race and he is one of the chances,” Nestor said.

“It was a nice run last start and he looks ready to peak third-up.

“He should get a lovely run without doing any work from the inside gate. We just have to pick and choose our runs at the right time.”

Midnight Affair will appreciate a drop in grade when she returns to country racing in the Class 2 Handicap (1600m).

“She has been competitive in Highways and better class races than what she is going around in this weekend,” he said.

“We just need an ounce of luck from the barrier.

“Egyptologist is the one to beat but he first-up over the mile.

“I’m just hoping the fitness edge we have can make the difference.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 10: COUGARS

Will take improvement his first-up fifth. Soft track suits.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 1: LOVE SHUCK

Was good late in the Wagga Town Plate. This is easier.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 4: SOOBOOGELISCIOUS

Just behind the placegetters in both runs back and ready to peak.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4, 9, 10

Race 6: 1, 8, 10

Race 7: 1, 5, 7, 9

Race 8: 1, 4, 13

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Kody Nestor has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

Kody Nestor looks set for a good day at Parkes. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL – PARKES

RACE 1: Telescope Tyres Group Inglis Xtra Bonus Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1000m

SPRING PROSPECT (8) lost the rider pre-race then raced keenly when fifth on debut at Mudgee in December. Has been very good in both trials this time back. Was kept under a hold to beat Egyptologist in his May 4 Dubbo heat. AMORUSO (6) is a debutant by Santos. Led by a big margin and kept on the bridle to win her Apr 1 Tamworth trial by nearly four lengths. CERONS (1) was just behind the placegetters in two recent Queensland runs. Was second in the Maribyrnong Trial on debut.

Bet: Spring Prospect to win

RACE 2: Mcpherson’s Parts & Service / Aeh Group Super Mdn Showcase Hcp 1400m

BILLABONG ROSE (8) resumes without a trial. Was momentarily held up on straightening when second to Bondi Prophet at Muswellbrook first-up last campaign. TURNING CIRCLE (13) was a handy third to Oakfield Saturn first-up then raced wide when down the order at Kembla. She didn’t handle the Heavy 10 when fourth as favourite at Wyong last start. SWEET KICK (12) was a two length fourth at Sale on debut on Sept 11. Changed stables and well beaten first-up before an improved run when fourth at Dubbo on May 4.

Bet: Billabong Rose to win

RACE 3: D’aquino’s Grand Hotel / Standen Building Showcase Hcp (C2) 1600m

MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (2) drops back in grade after running in TAB Highways at her past two starts, the latest a fourth to Canadian Ruler at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting. Had a win and two close seconds at her previous three runs in the country. EGYPTOLOGIST (1) was good last preparation when a first-up second at Dubbo before back-to-back wins at Mudgee and Dubbo. Given a shake up when second to Spring Prospect in his May 4 Dubbo trial. NAVAL OFFICER (4) made ground when fourth to Zoomorphic at Dubbo before winning at Wellington.

Bet: Midnight Affair each-way

RACE 4: Mca Engineering / Tanswell Transport Showcase (Bm58) 1000m

KORA MAGIC (8) led from a wide gate and just run down late when third to Cumnock when resuming at Dubbo. Went in without a trial and will be better for the run. SHERIDAN STREET (6) led all-the-way for a debut win at Gundagai on Apr 6. Began awkwardly and over-raced when always well back at Wagga last start. Can bounce back. THE MOOCH (11) was a close second to All Astern at Queanbeyan last start. Gets a nice run from the draw.

Bet: Kora Magic each-way

RACE 5: McMahon Building / Zac Kelly Golf Showcase Plate (C2) 1200m

COUGARS (10) sat outside the leaders before racing away to a big maiden win at the Sapphire Coast to end last campaign. Copped a decent bumped at the start before working forward to be outside the leader and just faded late when resuming with a fifth to Miss Emma at Wagga on May 2. MICRO MIKKI (4) made his NSW debut with a nose win at Narromine before a good win from Joy Of The World at Wellington both over 1100m. LADY ISHIKAWA (9) resumes for a new stable. Scored back-to-back wins at Newcastle last campaign.

Bet: Cougars to win

RACE 6: Coachman Hotel Punters Club Satellite Hcp 1200m

LOVE SHUCK (1) hasn’t had a lot of luck this campaign. Held up on the bend when second to Fangela at Canberra first-up. Again held up until passing the 200 when third to I Am Lethal in the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga and knuckled on jumping when sixth to Compelling Truth in the Wagga Town Plate. KEIKOKU (10) was help up until near the 70m when seventh to So You Pence at Wagga last start. Should have finished much closer. STARROS (8) tackled a Randwick Highway last start. Nice Hawkesbury win and made ground at Canterbury when seventh to Yiska.

Bet: Love Shuck to win

RACE 7: Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup 1600m

LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) is backing up from a solid first-up win under 63kg over Stratified at Mudgee last weekend. Has the same big weight again but is the class runner of the field. Did win the Wellington Cup last year. LOOSE LOVE (7) won over 1400m here to start his current campaign. Ran on nicely to finish a nose third behind Dark Vador at Wagga last start. ROUGE MOULIN (9) raced in the Highway at Scone yesterday. SIZZLE MINIZZLE (5) is back from a Queensland campaign. Just behind the placegetters at Eagle Farm his last two.

Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win

RACE 8: Parkes Courier Service / Parkes Farm Centre Country Boosted (Bm58) 1300m

SOOBOOGELISCIOUS (4) sat outside the leader and battled away for fifth at Queanbeyan when resuming before a half-length fourth to Capital Heart at the Sapphire Coast. Ready to peak third-up and gets an ideal run from the inside gate. RAYMOND’S REWARD (1) is shooting for a hat-trick after a handy win at Armidale followed by an al-the-way win at Gunnedah. MISS CAPRICORN (13) was badly crowded on jumping and settled a long way back when seventh to Zoomorphic at Dubbo last start. Nice win there the start before.

Bet: Sooboogeliscious each-way