A new training partnership will shoot for its first win at Timaru on Friday.
Celebrated North Canterbury husband and wife duo John and Karen Parsons have been joined in partnership by former South Canterbury trainer Vicky Ramhit.
Ramhit spent five years working for the Parsons before going into partnership with Timaru trainer Bruce Tapper for three years, winning 30 races including the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton and the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) with Specialty.
The Parsons and Ramhit had their first runners together at Riccarton last week but six runners at Phar Lap Raceway give them the chance to chalk up their first win as a training trio.
“Vicky had approached us and we’re at the stage now where we need someone to help us out, so it’s worked out all right,” Karen Parsons said.
“He went home to Mauritius for six weeks and then joined us. It would be nice to get our first win tomorrow. Vicky’s been through our runners and he’s hoping Final Savings can be the one. He was always his favourite horse when he worked here before.”
Savabeel eight-year-old Final Savings tackles the Richard & Bridget Preston Handicap (1200m) fresh-up for a new campaign.
A winner of six of his 77 starts, Final Savings has yet to win in a fresh state but Parsons said he was fit enough to run a bold race under the stables 4kg-claiming apprentice Mahipal Singh.
“The horse is really forward. He’s been working really well and we’re hoping he can run well,” Parsons said.
The stable’s other runners at Timaru are Cheyenne Bodie, On File, My Degree, Colossal and Henriqui, while Watch Out and Amberecho will have exhibition gallops ahead of racing assignments at Ashburton next weekend.
“I’d love to see My Degree win. One of his owners hasn’t been very well and we’d love to see her run well for him,” Parson said.
“We used to train the mother and as John said, she wouldn’t have even got warmed up before she got up to 1600m so the extra distance should really help her.”
Parsons said all the team had prepared well for the meeting and she was hopeful one could get the win for Ramhit.
