Prebble Booked For WA Star In Guineas
- Monday, 28 February 2011 04:45
Hong Kong-based jockey Brett Prebble has secured the prized Australian Guineas mount on Playing God.
Trainer Neville Parnham was seeking a replacement rider for the star West Australian colt after his son Steven was injured in a Bunbury race fall last Thursday.
Parnham said Prebble's agent rang for mount on Saturday night.
"He (Prebble) is a world-class jockey and I am only too happy to have him on," Parnham said.
"He is aware of the horse and that he has a good turn of foot and has beaten the older horses."
Parnham said he was unconcerned it was unlikely Prebble would be unable to gallop Playing God before the Guineas.
"He knows what he's doing and doesn't need to ride him before the race," Parnham said.
"He is a bit of studier of form and I am sure he will watch the replays."
Parnham said Playing God had settled in well since arriving at Flemington last week and would have a fast gallop on Tuesday morning.
"It is all coming to together nicely," Parnham said. "I'm more than happy with him."
A winner of six of his 10 starts, Playing God is chasing his fifth win in a row in the Group One 1600m feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Late last year he won the Group Two WA Guineas (1600m), Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) and Group One weight-for-age Kingston Town Classic (1800m) before an easy first-up victory in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1400m) at Ascot on February 12.
Playing God has long been a leading fancy for the Guineas but was shunted down a line in updated TAB Sportsbet betting after connections of Under The Eiffel paid a $41,250 late entry fee for the feature on Monday.
New Zealander We Can Say It Now is $6.50 favourite ahead of Under The Eiffel ($7.50), Southern Speed ($8) and Playing God ($9).
A winner of four of her eight starts, We Can Say It Now resumed with a close fifth to King Mufhasa in the Group One Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) on February 12 after Group One 1600m victories in the Levin Classic and the weight-for-age Captain Cook Stakes late last year.
Craig Williams will ride the Starcraft filly, co-trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker.
The Tony Vasil-trained Under The Eiffel emerged as Guineas contender this campaign when, after a 12-month layoff, he returned with two impressive wins at Sandown in January.
He convinced connections they should pay the late entry after an eye-catching second to Dusty Star in the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12.
Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas co-train unbeaten filly Southern Speed and they will also run Spirited Eagle ($17) in the Guineas.
