Group 1-winning hoop Brian Park broke a three-year winning drought when scoring on the John Pascoe-trained Yasey Sun at Bairnsdale last week.
His previous win came at Wangaratta on Cheeky Ben on Melbourne Cup day 2014, for Cranbourne trainer Rob Blacker.
The popular hoop has had a horrid run with injuries. Plagued by shoulder problems, Park only resumed riding at Pakenham on December 3, having not ridden in a race since November of 2014.
He finished third on the Pat Hyland trained Annunicate at this first run back. His success on Yasey Sun came 33 rides into his comeback.
He followed up with another win on New Year’s Day, steering the 10-year-old gelding My Survivor to a surprise victory ($30) at Mornington.
Park has been working hard and riding plenty of work at the Cranbourne training complex. There has been no shortage of support from some loyal local trainers.
He has ridden 434 winners in a career that has seen him spend more time on the sidelines than in the saddle over the past 10 years.
Park had his first ride as an apprentice at Warracknabeal aboard the Terry O’Sullivan-trained Mad Barry on April 22, 1997, after leaving school prior to completing year eight so that he could chase his dream.
“Pudgy” as he is known in the jockeys’ room, tasted the ultimate racing success at Morphettville in 2002, landing the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap (1200 metres) aboard the David Jolly-trained three-year-old Zip Zip Aray.
Hungry and keen to make up for lost time, Park has joined the roster at Elite Jockey Management. He can be booked through Rachael Allen on 0400 079 862.
Perfek result
It was great to see Sale trainer Kevin Milham and his son, popular ex jockey Lonaghan, back in the winners’ stall at Bairnsdale.
They look to have a very promising mare in debut winner Perfek, a narrow but impressive victor of the Classicbet Maiden Plate (1000m).
Lonaghan, now 35, was a 20 year-old apprentice when he was involved in a terrible fall at Hanging Rock’s popular Australia Day meeting in 2003.
He suffered severe head injuries but has made a remarkable recovery. He rode 201 winners in his brief time in the saddle, including 51 at metropolitan venues.
Linda Milham (Kevin’s wife) purchased Perfek at the 2015 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.
Kevin explained: “I went off to the toilet at the sales and when I came back Linda told me she had spent $7,000. Looks like she’s a good judge because this is a nice horse.
“She beat some capable types in a Sale jumpout recently so I thought she would be hard to beat at Bairnsdale.”
A respected local farrier, Kevin only has a few horses in work. He has enjoyed plenty of success over the years with gallopers including Summer Alert, Miss Matari, Candy Man, I’myourhuckleberry, March Miss, Marthick and Chains.
Kevin is looking forward to a bright future with Perfek. “We’ve been patient with her. She’s still learning and does a bit wrong. Hopefully by not rushing her we should have her racing for a few years,” he said.
There was a shock pre-race when the Eric Musgrove-trained odds-on favourite ($1.40) Mamzelle Murdoch was scratched after hitting her head in the barriers.