Perhaps it was a case of William Pike being outpiked.
In a stirring finish it was Brad Parnham on Dominating grabbing Swap Ya (Pike) right on the post.
In the process it was Parnham who had the arms more outstretched, pushing the horse’s neck out, with his own body horizontal to the saddle.
Dominating’s win in the Robinson Handicap (1000m) was notable because the chestnut was held up momentarily in the home straight. In contrast Swap Ya had gathered momentum on the turn after gaining a clear run.
The chestnut galloper has now won three of his seven races.
Trainer Neville Parnham said that Dominating had been working brilliantly and he expected a sharp performance from the Snitzel three year old, resuming after being turned out last November. (Parnham has just purchased another Snitzel youngster at the recent NSW yearling sales).
The Parnham family had three wins after the first three races with young Chris Parnham (16) bringing up a double when Vital Importance finished stoutly to score, from Mythical Trust, by a short half head, in the Crown Perth Handicap (1100m).
Vital Importance had previously been placed in his last two runs before breaking through on April 13.
The apprentice rider had effortlessly won the first race on Black Tycoon, trained by Justin Warwick.
In his short time riding Chris Parnham has now completed seven metropolitan victories, 19 wins at provincial tracks and three at country courses. He maintains a good 10 per cent winning strike rate from 299 rides.
It took him 57 rides to break his ‘maiden status’ which came on December 30 riding his father’s galloper Fabulistic, at Bunbury. The pair combined again three days later, at Narrogin with Clumsy.
Steven Parnham, on The Blues, just failed to make it another win for the stable when his late charge from near the rear was fended off by I See Luck (Shaun McGruddy), the margin being a short half head.
Trainer Steve Wolfe only paid $500 for I See Luck but the Pricelessly (USA) four year old has returned prize money of $74,000 from five wins and four placings in his 13 starts.
Inclined to be a bit of a loafer when in front Wolfe said “the jockey told me not to worry if it was three wide,” and that is how he raced.
Shaun O’Donnell brought Sir Hallowell home with a well judged ride to nail Bombora close to the post in the Regal Bakery Handicap (1200m).
Trainer David Harrison said Sir Hallowell didn’t have a long run in him and probably had not realised his earlier potential.
Accordingly, O’Donnell had the gelding parked on the rails, early in the race, before finishing down the outside in the run home with a late run.
Bombora’s run was an improvement on his previous fading ninth on March 23 behind Beach Express.
On that occasion Bombora finished with a sole injury and his second on Saturday was a good return from setback.
As they say in music you got to have soul and in racing no sole, no horse.
13.4.13