The training combination of John and Karen Parsons and Varma Ramhit look to hold the key to success in the main race at Wingatui on Boxing Day, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m).
The trio will line up the early Fixed Odds favourite in consistent mare Watch Out ($4) while stablemate Amberecho ($11) is a strong second candidate if she can shake off some bad luck of late.
Karen Parsons found it hard to separate the pair with the prevailing track conditions on the day likely to have a say in how the race plays out for their runners.
“We are keeping an eye on the weather as it is currently a Slow 7 and while Watch Out (NZ) (Highly Recommended) can handle some cut in the surface she wouldn’t want it any worse than that,” Parsons said.
“Amberecho (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) handles a wet track a lot better so she won’t mind if there is rain around, she just needs to finally get some luck as the only luck she has had lately has been bad.
“She likes to get up on the speed and with her barrier draw (1) we’re hoping Sam (Wynne) can get her away and she gets a good run near the lead.
“Watch Out is a little more versatile and she has really impressed us during this campaign.
“She has only been out of the first three once in 11 starts and that day she got stuck wide and just kept on giving to run sixth in her first attempt at stakes company.
“While she is dropping back to 1200m we think she will still be very competitive as long as Jasmine (Fawcett) can get her handy at the start as that is the key to the 1200m races at that track.”
Parsons admits there are also bragging rights on the line between her and husband John.
“While it has my name in the book, Watch Out is actually John’s horse while Amberecho is mine along with a group of good clients,” she said.
“There will be a fair bit of banter on Christmas Day no doubt and we will just have to see who gets the upper hand.
“Every year we are travelling on Christmas Day and this year is no exception as we have a pretty big team entered so we will be on the road early.
“It would be nice to get a winner to make up for it.” The Parsons and Ramhit team have numerous runners littered throughout the Wingatui programme, with Parsons nominating Miss Brittany and Stolen Decree as two of their better chances with track conditions to suit.
