Kembla Grange preview: Kerry Parker can get closer to 400-win milestone with more success on home track

Trainer Kerry Parker is closing in on 400 career wins and can creep a little closer to that milestone with some handy chances on his home track.

Parker currently sits on 385 wins with 130 of them coming at Kembla where he saddles up four runners.

Lightly-raced mare Margaret’s Missile has only joined Parker’s stable this preparation but he is happy with how she is coming along and feels she is a good chance in the 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1400m).

The four-year-old pleased Parker with her third behind Ausbred Mimosa in her Kembla trial on November 27.

“She trialled quite well and this looks a perfect starting point for her,” Parker said.

“Being a four-year-old and up maiden, she isn’t taking on those three-year-olds on the way up who are pretty handy.

“I think she will run really well. She will be competitive.”

The daughter of Smart Missile showed handy ability in her first campaign when placings third in two of her three runs behind Deelbreaka at Newcastle and Golden Passport at Muswellbrook back in July.

“She has only had the three starts and is still a bit new to things,” Parker said.

“Just watching the replays of her runs, it looked like she was just climbing a bit in her action when put under pressure.

“With a bit more time and a bit more maturity under her belt, she will learn how to stretch out.

“She seems to be working it out and her trackwork has been nice.”

Trainer Kerry Parker has some good chances at Kemblka on Thursday. Picture: Grant Guy

Equilibrist is one of eight debutants in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1200m) where only two runners have faced the starter previously after the early scratching of My Paloma.

The son of Trapeze Artist finished a handy third in his Kembla trial on November behind Killer Kerr who came out and won impressively at Kembla last Saturday.

“It’s nice when a little bit of form comes out of a trial like that.” Parker said.

“He was still a little bit new in the trial. A bit hot pre-race and things like that. I thought it was a handy effort though.

“He still has to grow up a bit mentally and learn to cope with everything. He will be better horse in time.

“He should get a nice run in transit from there and if he can turn up and do everything right, I will be pleased.

“Having a positive experience at their first start definitely helps them through their preparation.”

Laskarina has just one second placing to her name from nine starts but her efforts have been better than that stat reflects.

That second came here on November 7 when 2½ lengths behind Andalus.

Prior to that, she was less than a length from Final Reset over 2000m here on October 28 and last start, she was 2½ lengths off Mist Of Battle at Wyong.

She is an each-way chance in the final event, the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (2000m).

“She has been racing really well all preparation and it’s just a matter of things going right for her,” he said.

“Every run this time in has been the run of a racehorse whereas last time, she was doing a lot wrong.

“She is very honest and tries hard.”

Parker’s other runner is Bush Girl in the Super 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m).

“She had one start last preparation but I would disregard that performance,” he said.

“She will be better over further in time but I think she can run a better race this time.”

Trainer ‘feels sorry’ for luckless galloper

Con Karakatsanis describes Black Duke as one of the unluckiest horses racing but feels the gelding is ready to break through when good fortunes finally shines on him which he hopes is at Kembla.

The six-year-old has won just three of his 36 career starts with the latest at Hawkesbury back in March where he defeated The Empire and Anythink Goes which was his first win since joining Karakatsanis’ Warwick Farm stable about 12 months ago.

“If you go through this horse’s racing career, he has been so luckless,” said Karakatsanis.

“I feel sorry for him because he is that horse that never seems to get anything go his way at all. It shows in his racing stats where he has only won three races.

“If things had just gone his way a few more times, he could have had seven, eight or nine wins next to his name.

“He just seems to find that bit of bad luck but he is honest and I believe he still has a few races (wins) left in him.

“He deserves more than what he has achieved so far because he is just so genuine and tries hard every start.”

He was something of a good thing beaten at his latest run at Newcastle on November 26 when caught three-wide and having to work forward to sit outside the leader before being caught on the line by Rapidash.

He has barrier five in the Benchmark 64 (1400m) at Kembla, a draw Karakatsanis is quite happy with.

“If he gets a cozy run, he probably wins that race the other day,” he said.

“He never seems to draw well but I’m happy that he drawn a good gate this week.

“He should get a nice run from there and I know the day he gets some good luck and the breaks go his way, he can win.”

Karakatsanis also has Sophieinthesky making her race debut in the Midway Maiden over 1200m.

“She is a work in progress. She hasn’t worked out what it’s all about yet,” he said.

“She has had a few trials but once she gets a bit of race experience and gets up over a journey, that where we should see more improvement.”

SOURCE: NEWS.COM