Parsons toasted, Bishop roasted
PUNTERS TOASTED trainers John and Karen Parsons long and loud at Wingatui yesterday, when first they won the $ 50,000 Dunedin Gold Cup with Monachee, then clinched a Pick Six of more than $82,000 when their runner, Semper Plus, scored a $25 upset in the last leg.
But while the champagne corks were popping for the 11.2 unitholders who shared the $921,080 jackpot, there was no celebrations at jockey Ryan Bishop’s place – he did his drinking before the races even started, failed a breath test and was stood down.
Bishop was to have ridden fifthleg upsetter Elite Street, but in a surprise swoop at the start of the day, he was found to have an alcohol level of 512 micrograms per litre, 112 more than the legal limit for driving a car, and well over the permissable level of 100 for riding a racehorse.
The Canterbury jockey was suspended for five weeks, but will be allowed to fulfil engagements at Banks Peninsula tomorrow if he can provide a clear urine sample.
KUMEU PUNTER Neil Groves celebrated a $62,000 win on Pick6 by going out to buy a Lotto ticket.
Groves, who runs a lawnmowing business that has struck hard times in the last 18 months, lashed out on the jackpot with a $1000 spend, anchoring three legs – Platinum Kingdom, Captain Kirk and Ric O’Shea, who all won as favourites.
And he was never going to miss a collect as he took the field in all three remaining legs.
‘‘I was yelling for Groover in the last leg, because my nickname is Grover, but that winner was a better result. I thought I was only collecting about $ 20,000 so to get $62,000 was a real surprise.
‘‘The last gallops Pick6 I struck paid $32 – everyone in the country got it.’’
Uncannily, when his brother scored a first division Lotto win 20 years ago he also came up short, sharing it with 39 others and collecting only $39,000. Groves said he gave up owning racehorses as a bad joke after a couple he had shares in ‘‘used to run at the wrong end of the field all the time. I thought it might be cheaper backing them at the TAB.’’
THE PARSONS could be forgiven a few drinks last night however after Monachee’s runaway win, which continued a remarkable streak for them in recent months.
The Balcairn team, through the deeds of Final Touch, have already bagged a Group I double at Trentham, the Captain Cook Stakes and Telegraph Handicap.
And they came close to winning last week’s Wellington Cup with Asavant, who was only a length from the winner after her gate failed to open on terms with her rivals (see story at right).
Monachee is raced by Stan Jones, of Mossburn, whose wife, Bev is used to being in the limelight as an owner, mainly with big winner O’Cartier, recently retired from the Parsons stable.
Jones leased Monachee from a North Island syndicate last April and she has now won him four races.
RIC O’SHEA provided a local triumph in Otago’s major race, when he took the $ 75,000 Group III White Robe Lodge Handicap.
Waikouaiti breeder Andy Denham had the skills of North Taieri trainer Steven Prince to thank for his win.
Prince discovered Ric O’Shea was holding his breath when unplaced in the Timaru Cup late in December so he decided to trial the gelding with a shadow roll and a tongue tie at Gore at his next start.
Despite a big weight of 63.5kg. Ric O’Shea responded by finishing second and that proved an inspired leadup to his win yesterday.
Rider Kylie Williams, who won the White Robe on Pins in 2007, settled Ric O’Shea in sixth spot and charged to the front at the 150m, holding off the fast- finishing Natuzzi, who came from the tail.
DARRYL BRADLEY, who rode four winners on the day, was impressed with Platinum Kingdom’s win in the Dunedin Guineas.
‘‘He is very tractable and it helped to ride him on the pace. He hit the line really well,’’ said Bradley, who was riding Platinum Kingdom for the first time.
The horse is trained by Lisa Latta, of Awapuni, for John Street and Graeme Blackburn, of Lincoln Farms in Kumeu, and Neville McAlister, of Wellington.
He has been in the care of Marita Frith, who is in charge of the Riccarton arm of the Latta stable, since he finished an unlucky third in the Gore Guineas on January 19.
The win was consolation for Platinum Kingdom who was a victim of slow-opening gates in the Wellington Guineas at Trentham last October and was declared a late scratching. He will remain in the south for the Southland Guineas.