A DECISIVE ride from Johnathon Parkes aboard Julinsky Prince in Saturday's Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham enabled them to double their Group One tally together.
The Whanganui-based jockey and the diminutive six-year-old opened their account at the top level in the Windsor Park Plate on the capital city course inOctober, and they staged a repeat performance in the Rydges Wellington-sponsored feature.
Parkes was three back on the outer on a dawdling pace before he sent Julinsky Prince forward mid-race to sit outside the leader.
"They were going quite slowly and he wanted to get going so I let him slide from the 800 and he just kept kicking," he said.
"He's a star and every time he goes out he tries 110 per cent. He's a neat horse and so easy to ride."
A close second in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes at his previous appearance, Julinsky Prince was in front soon after straightening and he fought tooth and nail to the line to earn the 10th win of his 33-start career.
"It's just unbelievable, everything has just clicked," Auret said.
"He was fourth in this race last year and he's getting his just deserts."
Julinsky Prince has been placed one in three starts beyond a mile and he may now get another chance over ground with the Group 1 Zabeel Classic over 2000m at Ellerslie on Boxing Day a possible option.
Authentic Paddy produced a career best effort at Trentham to finish runner-up ahead of Soriano and the southern mare Hayley Maree was fourth ahead of Shuka, winner of the previous two editions of the Captain Cook.
The hot favourite Kawi could make no impression from the back in the straight and finished sixth. NZ Racing Desk
