PARKER DEBATING FLYING BANDIT’S CUP RETURN

KEMBLA Grange trainer Kerry Parker is debating whether to resume his Group 1 Metropolitan contender Flying Bandit in Sunday’s $200,000 Goulburn Cup(1400m).

Parker planned the country feature as his talented stayer’s spring campaign starting point, but will confer with Proven Thoroughbreds’ boss Jamie Walter before making a final decision.

Goulburn was rated a “Heavy 9” this morning.

“I will speak with Jamie and also wait and check the track conditions,” Parker said this morning.

“If we miss Goulburn, there is a Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick in a fortnight (September 6).

Flying Bandit, a winner at six of his 13 starts, won the Wagga Cup (2000m) in early May and then travelled north for the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm at the end of that month.

He drew poorly on a heavy surface, and made good ground from well back to finish seventh to subsequent Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino.

“Flying Bandit carries some residual fitness as he had only a few weeks’ break after the Brisbane race,” Parker said.

“The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 4 is our aim.

“If he doesn’t run at Goulburn, Flying Bandit will go to that 1600m Benchmark 94 Handicap and then the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 20.”

Jay Ford has ridden the now five-year-old in all six wins, and also when he was too classy for his five rivals in a Kembla Grange trial on the inside track on August 8.

Parker has both Otono (Ford) and Close Encounter (Andrew Adkins) in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) tomorrow at Randwick, where the track held a “Heavy 10” rating this morning.

“Close Encounter has been placed on heavy ground and will run, and I will probably also run Otono even though she is resuming,” he said.

“The Midway is the opening race, so we will get first crack at the track.”

Parker has won twice with lightly-raced five-year-old Otono(who also is a member of the Proven Thoroughbreds team)from three starts since she was transferred from a leading Sydney stable.

“In fairness, I have been able to place her in Provincial and Midway races at the provincials, whereas her previous trainer Joe Pride wasn’t eligible to do so,” he said.

“Otono has had a trial (fourth to Ivana over 800m at home the same day Flying Bandit trialled), and also a little jumpout.

“Now she is going to a Midway in town.”

Close Encounter chased home mudlark Divine Bene (a rival again tomorrow), albeit beaten easily, last time on a heavy track at Newcastle on August 9 in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

Parker’s third Randwick acceptor is So Sleek (Reece Jones) in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).

“He has had three runs back now, is a winner on the heavy, so we’re having a throw at the stumps,” he said.

Story John Curtis, August 22, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos