Top Ride. Nooresh Juglall rode Parceval
The Silvano gelding Parceval continued trainer Tara Laing’s rich vein of form with an exciting last gasp win in Friday’s Fairview Mile. Nooresh Juglall rode an enterprising race to score what was a fairly surprising win.
At first glance this race had not appeared impossible to work out.
Parceval had frankly looked up against it when we took cognisance of his proximity in the weights to the likes of the Bremner pair of Celtic Fire and Blaze Of Fire, who have run off career highs of 109 and 101 respectively, and have won 19 races between them.
The Arlington 1800 winner has shown flashes of good ability and he continued the outstanding form of the Joostes and Tara Laing, who have been winning races across the board in the Eastern Cape.
Blaze Of Fire led the six horse field from Celtic Fire and Iron Grey, with Parceval and Indian Hawk ahead of Superfederation, who was always battling.
Into the home straight Blaze Of Fire continued to lead as Celtic Fire looked dangerous, with Indian Hawk unleashing a challenge wider out.
Iron Grey, who has adopted a far more sensible approach in his races in recent times and was going for four in a row, was also storming up to challenge.
But Nooresh Juglall had timed things perfectly and the chestnut put his head up where it mattered most.
Parceval held on by a whisker in a time of 96,81 secs to deny Iron Grey, with Indian Hawk and Celtic Fire a half length in arrears.
Under a length covered the first four of the six runners home, and there will be the cynics who may cry that the form won’t work out.
Bred by Oldlands Stud, the 4yo Parceval is a winner of 6 of his 17 starts, with 7 places. He took his stake earnings to R330 075.
By Silvano out of the three-time winning Jungle Rock mare, Eastbound, Parceval cost R175 000 at the National Yearling Sale.
Once described by senior jockey Chris Taylor as the best horse he had ridden in Port Elizabeth, Parceval may yet have further improvement to come.
