PARKER WANTS ST LEGER PACE FOR FLYING BANDIT’S TEST

KERRY Parker wants a genuine speed in Saturday’s ATC St Leger Stakes at Royal Randwick to test Flying Bandit’s staying mettle.

The multiple Group 1 winning Kembla Grange trainer says provided the $500,000 Group 3 feature over 2600m is truly run, it will determine whether his talented gelding can stay.

Flying Bandit’s regular rider Jay Ford reunites with the five-year-old, who has won six of his 16 career starts.

He won the Listed Wagga Cup (2000m) in May – his second success at the distance – but has been unplaced in two 2400m attempts, though there were excuses for both.

Flying Bandit drew poorly when seventh to subsequent Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm 29 days after his Wagga triumph, and at his last start had specking at good odds ($26 to $15) when 10^th to Caulfield Cup third favorite Regal Supremacy in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick on October 4.

However, the gelding’s Metrop campaign was interrupted at a vital stage when he did not secure a start in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 20, forcing his trainer to run him in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens a week later when he ran fourth under a big weight (60.5kg).

“There’s no doubt missing his lead-up in the Kingston Town didn’t help his chances in The Metropolitan,” Parker said today.

“We had to come back in distance only a week before The Metropolitan, and he wasn’t helped there either with a muddling pace.

“Flying Bandit is in great order, and I would like to see the St Leger truly run.

“He has drawn the outside barrier (11), and we’ll go back and do our best.”

Parker did not keep Flying Bandit in the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 when second acceptances were taken earlier this week.

Fifty-three horses remain in the Cup, including leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ trio Changingoftheguard, Adelaide River and Cleveland.

“There was no point continuing on with the Melbourne Cup payment,” Parker said.

“Flying Bandit is still very new, and learning his trade as a stayer.”

The TAB’s St Leger market has Flying Bandit at $23, with UK visitor Sam Hawkens heading betting at $2.70.

Like his stablemate, Well Timed also has drawn poorly in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m), where he is also at $23 in a wide open $5 the field market.

With regular partner Nash Rawiller in action at Caulfield, Jay Ford goes on to Well Timed, but isn’t a stranger to the gelding, having ridden him several times earlier in his career.

“We will have to run Well Timed despite his wide draw,” Parker said.

“He isn’t the easiest horse to place now, but at least we’ve got a run.”

Well Timed also drew poorly (in fact the outside in a field of 10) at his last start when a gallant second under 62.5kg to Rock Empire (again a rival) in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at a midweek Kensington meeting on October 8.

Whilst he meets Rock Empire 1.5kg better, that horse has a much more favorable draw.

Story John Curtis, October 16, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos