3 minute read

It's already been an unforgettable week for trainer Kerry Parker and he's hoping Tampering can put the icing on the cake in Saturday's $150,000 Polytrack Provincial Championships Qualifier at Kembla Grange.

Parker became a dual Group 1 winner last Saturday when stable star Think It Over caused a boilover to win the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.

The Kembla trainer is now looking towards The Championships for the Doncaster Mile with his emerging talent but was keen for his tough gelding Tampering to join Think It Over at Sydney's two-day autumn showpiece.

"To win a Group 1 for any stable is remarkable and it's definitely been a terrific week so hopefully it can continue," Parker said.

The state's big wet looked to have cost the Illawarra Turf Club the chance to host its heat for the second time in five years last month when the meeting had to be transferred to Goulburn.

But when the rain continued to fall around NSW the heat was forced back a fortnight and Kembla was able to retain the feature event.

Tampering is among the best chances of the local brigade set to line up in the rescheduled qualifier.

He has already had one attempt of getting into the Provincial Championships decider through the Newcastle heat back on February 27 when he finished sixth.

The son of Pendragon has been kept fresh by Parker for his second attempt at booking a place at Randwick on April 17.

"I am very happy with the way he has progressed," Parker said.

"He is heading into this five weeks between runs with the Kembla qualifier getting postponed a few weeks ago.

"I had planned to go three weeks into the qualifier and then hoping three weeks into the final until they had postponed.

"I prefer to keep him fresh than backing him up quickly."

Tampering is suited by the return to Kembla with two of the gelding's three career victories coming on home turf.

"He performs well at home so the move back suits us," Parker said.

"He's won at Kembla before a couple of times when he won three in a row and is a winner at the trip."

Adrian Layt will need to find cover from a wide draw in barrier 11 on Tampering. He is a $10 chance with TAB.com.au to win the qualifier.

Parker will be taking on a Kris Lees armada on Saturday alongside fellow Kembla trainers Robert and Luke Price, Anthony Mountney, and Gwenda Markwell all saddling up runners.

Lees - Australia's leading provincial trainer - has seven acceptors for the last chance saloon qualify with stablemates Game Of Thorns and Safado sharing favouritism at $7.