By John Schell
Top jockey Grant Buckley will be out to capitalise on some recent winning form when he heads to Parkes on Sunday where he has seven rides awaiting at the Parkes Cup meeting.
Buckley booted home a treble at Kembla Grange last weekend and is set to follow up another busy day when he rides at Parkes where his mounts include the Clint Lundholm-trained Stockholm ($4.80 on TAB) in the $40,000 Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup.
Lundholm has given Stockholm four runs back from a spell and he was tested in good company when finishing ninth behind Gallant Star in the WRA Country Championships at Coonamble.
Buckley’s opening ride of the day at Parkes is on the Brad Widdup prepared Turning Circle ($4) in the McPherson’s Parts & Services/AEH Group Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1400m).
Turning Circle was placed at Gosford when resuming from a spell and followed that up with a 10th at Kembla Grange before a fourth as favourite at Wyong.
Last start winner Naval Officer ($4.20) awaits Buckley in the D’Aquino’s Grand Hotel/Standen Building Class 2 Showcase Handicap (1600m) for trainer Jim McMillan. Naval Officer is on the quick back-up having scored at Wellington on Tuesday when hitting the line strongly.
The Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones-trained recent Sapphire Coast winner Princess Halo ($10) is Buckley’s mount in the MCA Engineering/Tanswell Transport Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (1000m), while he will ride consistent mare Santasia ($3.50 favourite) for Darrell Burnet in the McMahon Building/Zac Kelly Golf Class 2 Showcase Plate (1200m).
Since joining Burnet from trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Santasia has finished second in each of three starts, the latest behind Miss Emma at Wagga.
Buckley sticks with the Mark Jones trained Mudgee galloper Life’s A Party ($8.50) in the Coachman Hotel Punters Club Satellite Handicap (1200m). Life’s A Party won at Bathurst two starts ago with Buckley in the saddle, and he aboard again when it finished a last start 10th at Dubbo behind The Dramatist.
The Darren Hyde-trained Adelsun ($61) rounds out Buckley’s day in the Parkes Courier Service/Parkes Farm Centre Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).
View final fields with full form & race replays for Parkes here