Josh Parr pulls right rein on Elamaz to cap winning treble at Rosehill

3 months ago 35

By Craig Kerry

June 28, 2025 — 5.30pm

Josh Parr was rewarded for a trusting ride on Irish-bred import Elamaz, which opened the door to spring features with a narrow win on his Australian debut in the listed McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Racing for the first race in almost 10 months and untested beyond 1600m, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained five-year-old, an $860,000 buy in France, was sent out a $2 Sportsbet favourite.

Josh Parr riding Elamaz to victory in the McKell Cup on Saturday at Rosehill.

Parr, who had a winning treble on the day, went forward with a wall of horses at the start before pushing on to lead.

Elamaz gave a good kick in the straight but was under siege in the final 100m as Matt Dunn-trained Belvedere Boys charged home, only to go down in a photo-finish.

Parr said his plan was to find a spot third or fourth with cover in the run, but he was faced with a tough decision early.

“I wanted to be as kind as possible to him, to get the 2000 first time on such dry ground, and there was a wall of us and I had to make a decision,” said Parr, who earlier won on Thunderlips and Rolling Magic.

“I just had to trust the stable, and trust they had him fit and ready for this event, which they often do.”

Stable representative Neil Paine said the aim was to get the stakes win and increase Elamaz’s rating to get him into better races in the spring. He said Elamaz would likely now have a let-up to prepare for the carnival.

Back-up Baker set for return

Bjorn Baker was considering a seven-day back-up for Thunderlips into the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill after he gave the Warwick Farm trainer a double on Saturday at the track.

Baker, who earlier won with Puntin, went to 86 Sydney winners for the season as he chases a first century in town. He is second only to Chris Waller (145) and went past 150 winners nationwide for the first time.

Zoustar four-year-old Thunderlips, $450,000 yearling, backed up a Randwick win on June 7 with a fighting effort to catch Zouatica by a long neck in the 1500m benchmark 88.

“He’s hard to catch at times but he’s going very well,” Baker said.

“He loves it wet, too, and there’s a bit of rain this week. Maybe back-up Baker could return for the back-end of the season.”

Asked if he would nominate Thunderlips for the Winter Stakes, he said, “Why not?”

Penza gives Waller a peach

Veteran jockey Jeff Penza repaid the faith of premier trainer Chris Waller with a perfect ride to break a run of placings for Changing Colours.

Waller called on the 55-year-old, who rides mostly on the provincial and country circuits, to fill the void for him at Rosehill with seven bookings, three of which were later scratched.

Changing Colours had two wins and six placings in eight career starts, all in Victoria, including seconds at her past three runs, before tackling the 1400m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares on Saturday.

Changing Colours (right) wins race 4 at Rosehill.

Penza had the four-year-old near last on the turn before negotiating a path through the field. He found clear air at the 250m and Changing Colours charged to a one-and-three-quarter lengths win over Fairway Star.

Penza, who rode Summer Flame to victory for Waller in the listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone last month, has come back from serious falls at Taree in 2023 (broken ribs, concussion and damaged lungs) and Queanbeyan (leg fractures, broken wrist and shoulder) in 2018.

“That was a good ride, he was patient and he took his gaps and used angles to safely get her into the clear,” Waller said.

“He’s a great rider and horseman, and it’s a pleasure to have him aboard. He’s very fit and keen, and he really is a credit to himself, the way he’s stayed fit and mobile.

“He doesn’t ride work for us but when we get stuck, I call him. I called him yesterday, and he was ‘yeah, no worries’. If you want him there, he’ll be there.”

Misterkipchoge later broke a 17-month, 18-start drought to give Waller a double. The four-year-old, with Jean Van Overmiere aboard, edged out stablemate Pure Alpha in the 1800m benchmark 78 for a first win since saluting on debut in Australia in January last year. He had eight placings in between the victories.

At Eagle Farm, Sydney-based Irishman Tom Sherry rode his first group 1 winner, taking Tashi to victory for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden in the Tattersall’s Tiara.

Veteran mare lifts for Curtis

Trainer Lee Curtis said he may have to put back retirement plans for Bacio Del Mist after she was strong late to win the 2400m Stayers Cup on her home track at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Alysha Collett weaved a path through the small field from near last and the seven-year-old lifted to hit the lead 50 m out and beat Mormona by a neck. Collett finished with a double after winning the last on Lady Extreme.

“She’s had horrible luck,” said Curtis, who trains a team of 19 with his wife, Cherie.

“The plan was just to go through this prep then wind it up, but these old blokes that own it, they’ll probably say we’ll race her another 12 months.

“She’s been in work a long time. She’s had just a little let-up. She’s a marvel, for a $30,000 yearling out of Zoustar.”

Bacio Del Mist has seven wins and eight placings from 44 starts, with $356,505 in stakes.

Super result for Seth’s mates

The owners of Puntin savoured a special first Saturday win for the talented three-year-old at Rosehill, and trainer Bjorn Baker is confident bigger victories are to come.

A $60,000 son of Super Seth, Puntin led the benchmark 72 handicap (1400m) for three- and four-year-olds under Ash Morgan and was strong late to hold out Don’t Forget Jack by a short neck.

It was a fourth win in six starts for Puntin, which was named after Seth Puntin.

“He died of cancer about two or three years ago and when we bought the Super Seth, it kind of made sense to name him after Seth,” part-owner Cameron Sinclair said.

“They are all his really good mates, so it’s a good story and a bloody good horse. We’re in Disneck as well, and some of them are first-time owners, so it’s really good.”

Baker said: “He was tough and it was a good ride, and I still think the best to come, once we get him up over a little but further.”