A desire to be fully fit and focused for the mount on budding star Duais in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes has prompted Josh Parr to turn down all other rides at the lucrative meeting.
Such is Parr’s commitment to the Edward Cummings-trained mare, he doesn’t want to jeopardise his preparation by wasting for other races and Duais will be his only ride on Saturday’s 10-race Randwick program.
“I did have to knock back three others, just because of the weight,” Parr said.
“I didn’t want to be riding too light on Saturday. The Queen Elizabeth is such an important race that I just needed to be switched on for that one.
“The beauty of it is, I will be there nice and fresh and nothing else on the day can happen to upset the routine.
“I will be going there with one thing on my mind and that’s to win on Duais.”
After capturing the Queensland Oaks at three, Duais had a seasoning preparation in the spring but the autumn has been her coming of age.
Unlucky behind Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton Stakes, she has turned in breathtaking performances to win her two subsequent starts in the Australian Cup at Flemington and Tancred Stakes at Newcastle.
While she hasn’t won on a heavy track, Parr says her effort on a heavy 10 in the Chipping Norton has convinced him it won’t affect her.
Nor is he concerned by a lack of obvious speed in the elite nine-horse field.
“With a bit of luck, I think we would have contested the victory in the Chipping Norton Stakes and let’s say she did win that race, she would have a heavy 10 Group One win beside her name,” he said.
“What we’ve seen in the Australian Cup and again in the Tancred is her ability to reel her rivals in and run away from them in a short period of time.
“She’s not the backmarker that needs high-pressure, speed races.”
If Parr sounds confident, it’s because he is.
He already regards Duais as the best horse he has ridden, and he knew he was aboard something special from the first time he trialled her.
He is equally thrilled to be part of a race that could be talked about for years to come with the presence of Horse Of The Year Verry Elleegant, All-Star Mile winner Zaaki, top colt Anamoe, and outstanding mare Montefilia setting up a mouth-watering showdown.
“What we are seeing is a proper, weight-for-age event,” Parr said.
“In previous years, Winx was so dominant in most of these races and it has been a long time since we’ve seen a Group One, weight-for-age race where there are five genuine chances of winning and when I say five, I mean five really, really good horses, the cream of the crop.”
