Josh Parr has continued his late-season form surge, picking up where he left off on Saturday with a victory in the opening race at Warwick Farm.
Parr took riding honours at Rosehill last weekend with a treble aboard Rolling Magic, Thunderlips and Elamaz in the feature McKell Cup, and he wasted no time getting back on the board with his first ride on Wednesday.
Partnering the Hawkes Racing-trained Dyami ($1.90 fav), Parr took bad luck out of the equation, settling the three-year-old in the lead and fending off the challengers in the straight to take out the Captivant @ Kia Ora Plate (1200m) by 1-1/2 lengths over Rach ($10).
It was his first ride on the son of Rubrick and Parr said it was seamless.
“He did everything really well for me. He jumped well, took up the lead comfortably and was willing to do so,” Parr said.
“When we were in for a fight the last section he dug deep and got the victory.
“He just kept responding to vigorous riding too. I love a horse like that, that is competitive, and the team has done a good job to get him here and win today off what looked a disappointing performance last time.”
Tulloch Lodge youngster Tomato Toastie ($8.50) upset the wagering sites $3 favourite Pyrolysis a race later, finishing strongest to break her maiden in the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1200m).
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said she had capitalised on her race experience and would only continue to improve as she matured.
“Getting out that slight bit in distance today helped but having that race experience, she knew what it was all about today,” Bott said.
“She was switched on and she put herself in the race nicely.”
Tomato Toastie is likely to be sent for a break but Bott believes she “will come back a lovely filly in time”.
He also revealed that her sire, Too Darn Hot, was the inspiration behind her quirky name.
“They’re always too darn hot, a tomato toastie,” he quipped.
