PARKER’S DOUBTS ABOUT BANDIT’S ALBURY CUP MISSION

KERRY Parker has delayed a decision as to whether his Wagga Cup winner Flying Bandit will chase another Cup at Albury tomorrow.

But the Kembla Grange trainer is leaning toward keeping the gelding at home, and waiting another week for a feature race at the Sydney autumn carnival.

Jay Ford, who has been partnered Flying Bandit in all six career wins including last May’s Listed Wagga Cup (2000m), has been booked for the $200,000 Listed Albury Gold Cup over the same distance.

“I’ll watch the early races at Albury today (first day of the carnival), where the track is rated a Soft 7,” Parker said this morning.

“At this stage though I’m thinking we might stay at home.

“If we miss Albury, he can go the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday week.

“That won’t be any easier of course, but I’m happy with the way the horse is going at home.

“He has had two runs back, and there were excuses for his latest run in the Canberra Cup (2000m) earlier in the month.

“Flying Bandit struck some interference at the 500m, but he didn’t appear comfortable either on the soft ground late in the meeting.

“Whilst he has won on both soft and heavy ground, that was early in his career nearly two years ago in obviously weaker class.”

Parker also has dually accepted with Wild Thoughts in both Saturday’s Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens, and the fifth Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at home.

“Jay (Ford) will ride Wild Thoughts if he goes to Rosehill, and the gelding has made the Qualifier at Kembla Grange, and Chad Lever has been booked,

“It doesn’t look to be the strongest Midway at Rosehill, but I will have a look at both races and make a decision.”

Wild Thoughts drew barrier 10 of 15 at Rosehill, and 14 in a maximum field of 16 (plus one emergency) at home.

The lightly-raced four-year-old ran last of seven on a heavy track at Kembla Grange on March 3 in a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) as an odds-on favorite at his second run back, but Parker wasn’t laying the blame on the wet ground.

“He won a Class 1 Handicap (1500m) at home on a heavy track last August,” he said.

“I feel it was more the fact that he didn’t back up 12 days after resuming in the opening Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Hawkesbury.

“That possibly flattened him.”

If Parker opts for Rosehill, he will be joined by fellow Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price, Joe Ible and Theresa Bateup.

Team Price runs stable warrior Satness (Adam Hyeronimus), Ible has the lightly-raced promising three-year-old Barrengarry (Zac Lloyd), and Bateup starts Tartana (Jess Taylor).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 19, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS