Godolphin colt Parkour didn’t win the Ballarat Magic Millions but did enough to convince champion jockey Jamie Kah to ring James Cummings and push to keep the ride.
It was a call Cummings was happy to take given that he has Magic Millions Classic ambitions for the son of Extreme Choice, which comes to Randwick on Saturday.
Jamie Kah was keen to stick with two-year-old Parkour heading to the Magic Millions.Credit: Racing Photos via Getty Images
“She rang after Ballarat and said I want to follow him wherever he goes next,” Cummings said. “And then her manager rang as well, so she was very happy to come up for him on Saturday.
“It is a big call for her to come up to Sydney for a Saturday.”
Parkour was the best from back in the field on debut when he ran second to Arabian Summer over the Ballarat 1000m. He looked like a colt that needed further, and that was why Cummings chose to take him to 1200m, believing it would suit his style a bit more.
“I think six furlongs will allow him to get organised because over the 1000m they were a bit quick for him early,” Cummings said. “He is a nice colt but it is all potential at the moment. He is going to get better with experience.
“He is the only horse we have aimed at the Magic Millions, and he has to earn his way there. That means winning on Saturday. If he does that, we might be on our way to the Gold Coast.”
Cummings is hopeful Contemporary can finally find the winner’s circle this preparation at Randwick tomorrow. The four-year-old has been placed at his past three at the same level.
“It’s a similar type of race to last start and if he can get a run at the right time, he will be hard to beat. It is another good ride for Jamie,” Cummings said.
Godolphin will look to qualify Parisal and Tamerlane for Magic Millions day via win and you’re in races at Doomben on Saturday.
Parisal, a two-time group 3 winner, gets in well under the set weights and penalties conditions in the Nudgee Stakes and has been made a $4 favourite, while Tamerlane is a $5 chance in The Buffering.
“We have given them both a little freshen after Flemington and both won trials to be ready for these races,” Cummings said. “It would be nice if we could get a couple of runners for Magic Millions day.”
Collett ready to make post Christmas impact
A refreshed Jason Collett will return to the saddle on Saturday with the Magic Millions in his sights on unbeaten three-year-old Sydney Bowler before heading to New Zealand to try and start the New Year with a group 1 victory.
A couple of December suspensions meant Collett could spend time with his young family across Christmas down in Victoria and it has him recharged for 2024.
“Just knowing I didn’t have to ride made a big difference and I was relaxed and had a good break, which I needed,” Collett said. “You can just enjoy Christmas that bit more with the family and it was a good time away.
“I get back on Saturday and then I have to go home [to New Zealand] for Babylon Berlin in the Railway Stakes on Monday, so it will be busy straight away.
“Babylon Berlin nearly beat Imperatriz in the race last year and it could be a very good way to kick off 2024.”
Collett sits third on the jockeys’ Sydney premiership with 30 wins after his best start to a season and has a good book of nine rides waiting for him at Randwick.
John O’Shea-trained Sydney Bowler comes to Sydney unbeaten in two starts at Newcastle, where he has been ridden by Collett’s sister Alysha.
“I had a look at both his wins and will talk to Alysha about him, but he looks a bit smart. I don’t have a ride in the Guineas at Magic Millions and if he can win on Saturday he could be it,” Collett said.
“I want to be riding at those bigger meetings and I have Erno’s Cube in the two-year-old, so it would be nice to have a good three-year-old ride as well.”
O’Shea said it was a testing of the waters for Sydney Bowler after his strong finishing wins at Newcastle.
“He is a nice horse and if he could win on the weekend there is that Magic Millions option for him,” O’Shea said. “We like him and I think he is above average.”
Collett has the ride on the last two favourites Step Aside and Union Army at Randwick.
“I won on Step Aside first-up and then saw he should have won last time if he had any luck. He is only going to be better for a couple of runs,” Collett said. “I just couldn’t get a clear run on Union Army first-up, so I’m very happy to be sticking with him.
“They are a couple of good rides to come back too.”
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