Parnham flags Karrakatta Plate hopes for Magic Millions winner

Do I Feel Lucky’s last gasp win at Pinjarra on Saturday has ignited hopes of winning Perth’s premier juvenile race: The Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot.

Ridden by Chris Parnham, one of the hottest and in-form riders going around, Do I Feel Lucky exploded out of the gates to lead and held on to win the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) in a thriller.

A member of Sean and Jake Casey’s impressive team, Do I Feel Lucky broke clear in the straight, but had to work hard late in the piece with Perfectly Proper charging late when into the clear.

The post came soon enough for Do I Feel Lucky, scoring by a short half-head and improving his record to two wins and two placings from four career starts.

Do I Feel Lucky continued Parnham’s terrific form in the saddle and extended his amazing record in the race, winning it for a third consecutive year.

Parnham, who piloted Big Shots 12-months back and Super Smink two years ago, said Do I Feel Lucky can figure prominently in upcoming two-year-old feature races.

“He can definitely contend in the autumn features,” Parnham said on Tabradio.

“I’d imagine he would have a little let up and target the Karrakatta.

“He’s a top class two-year-old and wouldn’t look out of place in those features later on.”

Parnham said a wide barrier didn’t help Shmoov Mover who rattled home from near last for fourth in the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m).

“He obviously couldn’t have gone much better,” Parnham said.

“He drew an awkward barrier and we had to go back a little bit.

“We were second last in the run and he flew home for fourth.

“I was really pleased with the effort.”

Parnam believes Rissoles, who gave him the middle leg of a treble, could target feature fillies and mare races after demolishing her rivals in the Thoroughbred Breeders WA Platinum Classic (1200m).

The Luke Fernie-trained mare won with a leg in the air with her closest rival Cherry Can Run three lengths away in second spot and in no danger of hauling her in.

“When she’s on song like that she’s got a devastating turn of foot,” Parnham said.

“Nothing much can go with her, particularly in that grade.

“It looked like her race on paper and she did the rest.

“If the same Rissole turns up in the Marjorie Charleson, I’d say she would be very hard to beat.”

The Marjorie Charleson Classic (1200m) will be run on March 1 and the Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on April 26.

After a treble at Pinjarra, Parnham carried over his silky form into Bunbury on Sunday with another bag of three winners.

He currently sits on 103 season winners, one behind Blake Shinn in the Australian Jockey Premiership.

In Perth’s title race, he is a runaway leader with 76 wins, well clear of William Pike (48.5), who has missed a big chunk of the year with a fractured wrist.