PARKER’S NEW APPRENTICE READY FOR CITY RETURN

REBECCA Bronett Prag has moved to Kembla Grange and will have her first Sydney ride for her new boss Kerry Parker on the Kensington track tomorrow.

The Swedish-born apprentice has been booked for a resuming Equilibrist in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m); the closer at the twilight fixture.

Bronett Prag’s 3kg city claim will appreciably reduce the topweight’s 62kg burden.

“Rebecca has transferred on loan from Canberra trainers Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden, and is keen to have a crack at provincial and city racing,” Parker said this afternoon.

Bronett Prag has ridden 82 winners since her Australian debut at Scone two and a half years ago.

Following a breakout 51 winners last season, she has ridden 15 so far in the new season.

Whilst it’s her Sydney debut for Parker, she has already tasted city success at Warwick Farm and Rosehill Gardens on resilient Braidwood gelding Knight’s Armour, when based at Canberra.

Parker has trialled Equilibrist, who races in the same colours as his now retired champ Think It Over, twice, including his latest second to Pippie Beach in a 740m heat on the Warwick Farm synthetic track on November 13.

A five-year-old son of Trapeze Artist, Equilibrist strung together two wins on end at his home track in May – both on wet tracks.

“I was trying Equilibrist over further ground, and then trialled him over 740m on the Warwick Farm synthetic track in late April,” Parker said.

“He went terrific and so we brought him back to shorter trips, and both his wins at home were over 1200m.

“Whilst those were on wet ground, he won’t strike that tomorrow but is coming to hand nicely.”

Equilibrist hasn’t started since finishing second to African Daisy in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) on a soft Rosehill surface on July 5.

Parker also has Elivina (Kerrin McEvoy) lining up at the Kensington meeting, in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) for fillies and mares.

The lightly-raced mare was resuming when runner-up to Storm Season (who confirmed the form by winning again on the Caulfield Heath circuit yesterday) in a 1400m Class 1 Handicap at Kembla Grange on November 4.

Parker then will turn his attention to Sunday meetings at Rosehill (moved from Saturday because of the predicted heat) and Hawkesbury.

Callistemon (McEvoy) lines up in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill, and Tom Cruising (Adrian Layt) is headed for Hawkesbury.

Callistemon resumed when fourth to Super Nui in a similar grade race over 1400m at Kembla Grange’s The Gong metropolitan meeting on November 22.

“She went to pieces in the enclosure at her first start since July, so her run was excellent in the circumstances,” Parker said.

“Callistemon has won second up before, has drawn well and the extra 100m is in her favour.”

Like his stablemate Equilibrist, Tom Cruising also strung two wins together in late October and early November, and is seeking a hat-trick in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).

Adrian Layt rode the gelding in the first of his two recent victories (at Kembla Grange on October 25 in a Provincial Benchmark 64 (1500m), and reunites with him.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 4, 2025