Visiting Australian rider Josh Parr picked up his first New Zealand victory at Riccarton on Saturday when he combined with trainer Mark Walker and the Te Akau Racing team to guide Campionessa to victory in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2500m).
The Sydney-based jockey has taken the opportunity to ride in New Zealand for the first time, where he will compete on all three days at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup Week, riding mainly for the Te Akau Racing team.
Parr produced an inspired ride to hand Campionessa her first stakes victory, saving every inch of ground during the running before guiding her to an inside run in the home straight.
Those tactics worked a treat as she dashed through to take the lead at the 300m before holding out Aljay and Jack Knows Best in a driving finish to the 2500m contest.
Walker was delighted with the effort but will resist the temptation to tackle next Saturday’s Gr. 3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) despite winning the traditional lead-up event.
“The ride won the race, so full credit to Josh, it is good to have him here,” Walker said.
“She deserved that as she has run any number of seconds.
“I think there is more in store for her as she will keep going on with it.
“She can come home now and have a freshen up, then we might look at the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) later on.
“I think the first time we try her over two miles will be in the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) rather than next week.”
Parr was full of smiles as he thanked Walker and Te Akau Racing for providing him with the opportunity to try his luck in New Zealand for the first time.
“I’m rapt to win here in New Zealand as I have come here for a fantastic opportunity with Te Akau Racing and Mark Walker, so this is a little payback with that victory,” he said.
“Hopefully it isn’t the last, as it is a long week and I want to just keep ticking them off.
“It was a fantastic effort by the mare as Opie Bosson had told me she would need my help to get the 2500m.
“I was mindful of that, not trying to get her wide and when the inside runs kept appearing, I just kept pinching each one of them.
“I was still using petrol so it was a very tough effort so full credit to the team.”
Parr can now add his first New Zealand victory to the more than 1050 wins he has had during his career in Australia, with nine of those at Group One level.
Owned by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate, she was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale from the draft of Mapperley Stud, who stand her sire Contributer.
Campionessa is the third stakes winner out of the three-time winning O’Reilly mare Bella Carolina, who is also the dam of Listed winners Tennessee and Leedox. – NZ Racing Desk
