By John Schell
The gun combination of jockey Joshua Parr, trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Darby Racing will be hoping to add to an already lucrative year when Midnight Dynamite contests the $200,000 Gosford Guineas at Listed level at the season-ending meeting at Wyong on Tuesday.
Parr, Baker and Darby have enjoyed plenty of success in recent years, particularly with crack sprinter Overpass, which won the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth last month. Parr has no doubt Midnight Dynamite can continue the winning run for the trio in the Wyong event.
Jockey Josh Parr.Credit: Getty
“It will be my first race ride on Midnight Dynamite,” said Parr. “But he has solid form around him, and he is a winner of three of his six starts.”
Midnight Dynamite was unplaced on debut at Muswellbrook but then won three on end at Goulburn, Nowra and Canterbury either side of a spell.
“Although he’s been beaten at his last two starts, he’s run very well in each of them and they have been against very good opposition,” Parr said.
“He was only beaten just over a length by Private Harry when third at Rosehill, and Private Harry is untapped and heading towards better class races.
“And then at Randwick last time out he fought on really well to only be run down late by his stablemate Arriving Home and she’s an unbeaten filly that looks promising.”
Midnight Dynamite has drawn gate two in the Gosford Guineas, and Parr said that’s to his advantage over main rival Amazing Eagle.
“From barrier two Midnight Dynamite should utilise his on-speed tactics and take plenty of running down,” Parr said.
In the other feature of the day at Wyong, the $300,000 Group 3 Gosford RSL Belle Of The Turf Stakes, Parr will ride the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Elettrica from an outside alley.
“She’ll need luck, but she’s been racing well and is rarely far away,” Parr said.
The jockey will also combine with the Freedmans when Paparacha runs in the Domeland C,G&E Maiden Plate (1100m), while his remaining ride is All Black for Nathan Doyle in the Malcolm Cusick Stakes (1200m).
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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
McLellan ‘dodges a bullet’ in fall
By Craig Kerry
Veteran Newcastle jockey Darryl McLellan is counting himself lucky after dislocating his problematic shoulder in a fall at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
McLellan, 54, was dislodged when his mount, the Damien Smith-trained Orphan Ellie, bucked shortly after the start of race one. He was taken to hospital, where doctors put the shoulder back in place.
Darryl McLellan.Credit: Getty
The two-time group 1 winner and former champion Sydney apprentice dislocated the same shoulder he injured in a fall at Newcastle on Boxing Day 2011, which contributed to an almost six-year stint on the sidelines.
“It was the same shoulder and they had to put me under to pop it back in,” McLellan said. “The implant is intact so dodged a bullet definitely there.”
Freedman has high hopes for Kavanagh trio
By Craig Kerry
Trainer Will Freedman expects to get success with three horses from the stable of late friend Sam Kavanagh after Magnatear gave connections a sight at Randwick on Saturday.
Magnatear, which was also part-owned by Kavanagh, led and kicked well late in the Midway Handicap before John Thompson-trained favourite Emmadella cruised past to win by a length. Magnatear was a clear second, two weeks after Newcastle trainer Kavanagh lost his battle with cancer at age 38.
“It was a good run, he’s an honest horse, and he’ll win one of those races,” said Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father, Richard.
Freedman has also gained mare Sukida, a winner on debut at Newcastle, and unraced Pierro colt Juan Pablo, which he said “can gallop”, from the Kavanagh stable. The talented Wrathful has gone to Chris Waller.
