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Benzini ruled out of Brisbane campaign; Milestone looms for trainer-jockey combination; Parkes closes in on 500 wins
Benzini ruled out of Brisbane campaign
A Brisbane Cup campaign for talented Hunterville stayer Benzini has been ruled out through injury.The Adrian and Harry Bull-trained Benzini was rested after finishing sixth as second favourite in March's Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) following successive wins in the Wairarapa Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau, the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata and the Nathans Memorial (2200m) at Ellerslie.
He began his Brisbane buildup with a trial third placing at Wanganui at the beginning of April but injury ruled him out of a planned start in last Monday's Anzac 1600 at Awapuni.Harry Bull confirmed the campaign was over on Wednesday when he tweeted: "Benzini to spell with wrenched joint, be back for spring time".
Milestone looms for trainer-jockey combination
Matthew Cameron will get the chance to take one last trick for parting Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman at Te Rapa on Saturday - a win which would bring up the 150 mark for the trainer-jockey combination.Cameron has ridden 149 winners for Bridgman and has four chances to add to that tally at Te Rapa on Saturday, Bridgman's final day as trainer for Te Akau Racing, for which Cameron is stable jockey.
Those mounts are Unsurpassed in the Listed Hamilton Vet Clinic Equine Stakes, Sir Darci, Tiara and Astrid.It was announced earlier this week that the new partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards would succeed Bridgman at the helm of Te Akau's Matamata stable.
Parkes closes in on 500 wins
Wanganui jockey Johnathon Parkes is on the cusp on a milestone.The 26-year-old hoop is within three wins of bringing up 500 wins in New Zealand and with eight rides booked at Otaki on Friday and seven at Te Rapa on Saturday, he has a good chance of reaching the mark this weekend.
Parkes began riding in the 2003-04 season but remarkably 265 of his wins have come in the past three seasons, including his two biggest wins on Ransomed in the Gr.1 Spring Classic at Hastings and Miss Mossman in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks.Parkes currently sits fourth on the jockeys' premiership behind Matthew Cameron, Danielle Johnson and Opie Bosson with 77 wins this term.