Veteran trainer Ken Parker will rely on the expertise of his jockey when Invicta attempts to make it back to back wins in the 1600m Benchmark 70 at Wyong on Tuesday.
Parker has had a long association with champion jockey Robert Thompson and believes he gets the best out of the five-year-old Rothesay gelding.
“I’ve had other riders at times, but he always seems to run best for Robert,” Parker said.
“He knows the horse and the horse knows him and goes good for him. I have put others on when Robert couldn’t ride him, and he’s just gone awful. He just seems to go well for Robert, he really can get the best out of him.”
Invicta looks one of the main chances in the field of eight, but Parker believes the Kim Waugh trained White Boots will be the hardest to beat.
“White Boots is pretty smart, and they are claiming on it. If there’s a bit of speed on it will suit us because my bloke, he’ll get back anyway.
“Hopefully he’ll be running fifth or sixth, one off the fence and it will be lovely.
“It gets to the stage now, I say to Robert ‘you know how to ride him.’
“We did discuss it when he won at Newcastle last start because there was absolutely no speed but most times I just say, ‘you know what to do.’
‘It’s no good me telling him. He’s had more rides than I’ve had feeds,” Parker laughed.
Thompson has partnered Invicta in more than half his 29 starts including six of his seven career wins and Parker is confident they can bring up another victory on Tuesday.
“He’s come back in good form. He’s doing everything right and I’m very happy with him.
“I mapped out his program about eight weeks ago and this race fits in perfectly.
“He’s getting a big older now and wants 1400m or a mile minimum, so this looks spot on.”
Sixty-nine-year-old Parker, who has two in work at Gosford, has had a lifelong association with horses and Invicta is the best he has trained.
He was purchased by a friend Robert Gurr as a yearling for $10,000 and with close to $150,000 in prizemoney to date, he has proved to be a good earner.
“Robert rang me up and told me he liked one by Rothesay and asked what I thought,” Parker said.
“I told him to go ahead with him and he bought him sight unseen.
“I knew after his first run in a race he had ability. He’s a nice little horse and he’s been good to me.
“He’s an absolute nob, a lovely horse. He’s got his little quirky things which he puts on nearly daily, but I’m used to that and take no notice.
“Other than that, he’s just a lovely horse to have around the place. He’s quiet, he behaves himself and does everything right.”
Wyong Race Club host an eight race card on Tuesday, with the meeting acknowledging local owners and trainers.
The first race gets underway at 1.20pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.20pm: GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 PROMOTIONS, 2 Fortress Command, 3 Manhattan Marvel, 4 Prince Of Arragon.
Race 2 – 1.55pm: DAMIEN LANE RACING STABLES CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000m); 1 SILVER MELODY, 2 Crackneck, 3 Highly Desired, 4 Partners.
Race 3 – 2.35pm: ALLAN DENHAM RACING STABLES BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100m): 1 DYNAMIC DYNASTY, 2 Heroic Fighter, 3 Bon Equus, 4 Magic Over The Bay.
Race 4 – 3.10pm: KIM WAUGH RACING STABLES MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, 2 Invidentia, 3 Milawa, 4 Lohan Princess.
Race 5 – 3.45pm: KRISTEN BUCHANAN RACING STABLES 4YO & UPWARD MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 SPICY MO, 2 Miss Antares, 3 Heeby Jeeby, 4 Clara Et Moi.
Race 6 – 4.20pm: MEN CARE TOO PROV & CTRY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m): 1 SO VERY VEIN, 2 Collision, 3 Fused Magic, 4 High Flight.
Race 7 – 4.55pm: OVER THE LINE RACING CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 LIFETIME QUEST, 2 Waka, 3 Paulo Pace, 4 Beidi.
Race 8 – 5.30pm: WYONG TRAINERS’ TROPHY CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 (1600m): 1 INVICTA, 2 White Boots, 3 Captain Mannering, 4 Sensacova.
