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Perth’s former champion rider Paul Harvey is the new rider for local mare Dainty Tess in the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot next Saturday.

Ascot trainer Daniel Morton was caught out when Chris Parnham decided to dump Dainty Tess as his Winterbottom Stakes ride in favour of Victorian sprinter I’ll Have A Bit.

Morton claimed Parnham had reneged on an agreement with the owners of Dainty Tess to ride their mare in the Winterbottom.

"The decision came out of the blue and we are really disappointed," Morton said.

"It was disappointing for the connections and myself obviously. For Chris and his manager not to honour their commitment and drop it on us at the last minute is very disappointing.”

"It’s a million dollar race and we have a live chance. It does leave a bad taste in your mouth.”

Morton says he has Dainty Tess in top order following her last start fourth in the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot that came after back to back wins in the G3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) and Listed RS Crawford Stakes (1000m).

"She's good. She has come through her races in good order," Morton said.

"Her run in the Colonel Reeves was a lot better than we first thought.

"She ran good sectionals - the backmarkers just couldn't make up ground on the day.

“There was plenty to like about the run and she has come through in good nick."

Dainty Tess finished seventh to Viddora in last year's Winterbottom Stakes.