In sacrificing what would have been a strong book of rides at Awapuni on a Group Three day, it's clear how highly Johnathan Parkes rates Te Aroha galloper Hiflyer.
Parkes heads to Ruakaka today to continue his association with the Peter Lock-trained Tavistock five-year-old in preference to riding Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile day at Awapuni, where his services would have been in hot demand.
"I think a lot of the horse and I'm making the trip to make sure I retain the ride for later on with bigger and better races in mind," Parkes said.
"I've picked up one other ride, [Tavlin] for Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs, but the reason for going up there was to ride Hiflyer so it didn't matter too much what else I was riding.
"I'm missing out on a few good ones. The Tavistock horse of Andrew Campbell's [Athletico], he's a pretty smart horse and no doubt I would have had a strong book if I had stayed in the CD but that's the sacrifice I've made so I can ride Hiflyer."