British hoop Joshua Parker has been a welcome addition to the jump jockey ranks over the past month, and the success continues to come for the 24-year-old with a winning double at Te Aroha on Thursday.
Riding for Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers, Parker partnered the $1.50 favourite in Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakklaberry) to success in the TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m), settling near the speed throughout before breaking away to a comfortable 4-¼ margin at the post.
“He was brilliant today, he was relaxed, his jumping was class, and he took me into the race,” Parker said.
“Last time I rode him here I wasn’t very hard on him and kind of let him do his own thing, but Kevin gave me really good instructions to get him up there and keep him happy, and that’s exactly what I did.
“Turning for home, he came back up underneath me, and he really tried hard. He deserved the win today.”
Parker was disappointed to fall from another short-priced favourite Sweet Taboo (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the maiden steeplechase, but he soon made up for that with a comprehensive display aboard a very promising chaser in Hey Happy in the Piako Rural Services Steeplechase (3500m).
Hey Happy (Rip Van Winkle) has been a model of consistency this season and pushed star jumper The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) right to the finish last start in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m), placing him a $1.70 favourite on Thursday ahead of stablemate Interllectus (Intello) ($4.70).
Parker took the patient approach with the eight-year-old, sitting back in the small field before storming into contention at the third-last fence. Interllectus chased gamely but couldn’t match Hey Happy who pulled away by 4-½ lengths to record his eighth win and just shy of $250,000 in stakes.
“I was over the moon with him, his run was brilliant last time against The Cossack who is a lovely horse,” Parker said.
“He had a nice opportunity today if everything went our way, he did catch me off guard with a couple of jumps, but he dug deep and I couldn’t have asked for any more from him. He was superb.”
Originally hailing from England, Parker rode in the point-to-point races in his homeland before joining the leading stable of Myers in May, and soon entered the winner’s circle at his first meeting on June 3 aboard Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit).
“I’d never sat on a racehorse until four years ago, I basically just went to a yard, started riding and kept falling off,” he said.
“Eventually I learnt to stay on and two years went by, and I thought I would have a go race riding in the point-to-points in the UK. I bought a horse called John Joella and she was a schoolmaster, an absolute star of a horse. She gave me all the education that I needed for jump riding, and I started to get noticed by trainers and getting rides. Two big supporters of mine were Lee Moulson and John White, they backed me this season and I can’t thank them enough.
“I heard about coming over here through Jack Power who had a really good season last year, and he said that if I could keep my weight down, there were plenty of opportunities to do well.
“I was quite lucky, even though it was under unfortunate circumstances, that Dean (Parker), who works for Kevin had a nasty tumble and broke his collar bone.
“It opened a big space and I’ve been very lucky to be able to ride some very talented horses of his, and I just try to do my best on all of them and put them in the right place.
“Fortunately, a few have come up winners, Invisible Spirit is another really nice horse that was a bit unlucky today in second, but taking nothing away from the winner who was very good (Helena Baby).
“If I had I managed to stay on Sweet Taboo he may have won too, but that’s just racing with highs and lows. You just have to pick yourself back up and be positive for the next ride.”
With 13 starts under his belt and a trio of winners, Parker identified a number of differences between racing styles in the two countries that took some getting used too.
“The races in the UK are a lot longer, and the fences aren’t live or quite as big,” he said.
“Horses over here jump completely differently as well, they are a lot bolder and will take a big jump, which can be a good thing and a bad thing when you’re getting used to it.
“Luckily Kevin’s sons Luke and Jason, and Dean school them brilliantly, they all jump lovely. They are all proper horsemen, breaking them in and getting them going really well.
“Dean has been riding out and he will be back this weekend (at Hastings), he can’t wait and I know he’s been missing it. He gives me plenty of advice and he’s very knowledgeable, a good person as well as a great rider.”
Fellow Brit Jay Kozaczek has also made the move over to New Zealand, and Parker emphasised the positives for riders considering a stint across the globe.
“I’ve told plenty of lads in the UK to come over, but it’s not easy with costs for flights, visas and things like that. I’d advise anyone to come though, it’s great and there are so many opportunities,” he said.
“There are just so many riders in the UK and not that many horses without a declared rider already, it’s very competitive. Jay has also come over and he’s gone and ridden a winner on his first day.
“I am very lucky with the Myers as they are a great bunch to be around, I’ve landed on my feet here and being based with such good people. I’m very grateful for the boys, Kevin and Ange and their daughter Caley for all of their help.
“Even the simple things like helping me get a bank account and a car for travel, all the little things that you don’t think about.”
Parker has secured a couple of nice rides at the Hastings meeting on Saturday, including maiden hurdlers Go Butch (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and Mugshot (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) for Myers, and an in-form Auld Jock (Adelaide) in the feature AHD – Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m).
“I’m looking forward to it, going out and enjoying myself and hopefully giving the horses a good ride,” he said.
