PARKER’S PRAISE FOR HIS APPRENTICE

IT wasn’t a close encounter of any kind!

And Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker was more pleased for his apprentice Rebecca Bronett-Prag than himself at breaking a run of outs.

“It’s a relief, and all our horses ran well today,” Parker said after Close Encounter ($11) had easily beaten his rivals in the Conditional Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m).

“But I was really pleased for Rebecca.

“That’s her first win for me, and she gave Close Encounter a beaut ride,” Parker said this evening.

“Rebecca made a decision to put the horse at the heels of the leader Smart Serenade rather than sit wide early, and it proved a winning move.

“Rebecca has ridden more than 80 winners, including a couple in town last year on Knight’s Armour, and considering her experience, her 3kg claim at the provincials is very beneficial.

“She deserves more opportunities.”

Close Encounter, a five-year-old son of Nicconi and a $70,000 purchase as an unraced two-year-old at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race sale, was never threatened once he took control in the straight and led home a local trifecta.

He had nearly two lengths to spare at the post from Theresa Bateup’s Tartana ($4.80) and the winner’s stablemate Equilibrist ($10).

“Close Encounter ran well first-up at Hawkesbury last month but then went ordinary next time at Royal Randwick.

“I don’t know what happened that day, and it was good to see him bounce back today (four of his five wins have been at home).”

Parker will give consideration to a shot at the Provincial-Midway Championships with Close Encounter.

“Having won five races now, he can’t win any more to be eligible for the series,” he said.

“The first Qualifier at Hawkesbury is still a month away, so we’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Parker has his Wagga Cup winner Flying Bandit and promising four-year-old Wild Thoughts (both raced by Proven Thoroughbreds syndicates) back in work.

Multiple Group 1 winning trainer Parker was one of three Kembla Grange stables to be successful at the meeting, which was postponed two days because of wet weather.

Father and son Rob and Luke Price clinched a hat-trick with the much improved Century Song (Brock Ryan), who carried his 60.5kg topweight to victory as a $1.85 favorite in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

The Microphone four-year-old broke through at Nowra on December 14 in a Super Maiden Plate (1100m), and then scored again at home on January 3 in a Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

He has carried big weights in all three wins.

Theresa Bateup won the opener, the 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1200m) with Kitty Okay (Amy McLucas).

The four-year-old daughter of Headwater’s triumph also was popular with punters as she started a $2.70 favorite.

At Tamworth, Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe broke through with lightly-raced Lone Star Dream ($6.50) in the Showcase Maiden Handicap (1600m).

Having only his sixth start – and second in two years – the five-year-old was a $6.50 chance and given a great ride by Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyn.

Lone Star Dream, whom Kehoe described as being a “problem child”, is a younger brother to Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 23, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS