In-form hoop Buckley eyeing Sunday stroll in Parkes
Top jockey Grant Buckley will be out to capitalise on some recent winning form on Sunday when he heads to Parkes, where he has seven rides awaiting at the Parkes Cup meeting.
Buckley booted home a treble at Kembla Grange last weekend and is set to follow up another busy day at that track on Saturday when he rides at Parkes where his mounts include the Clint Lundholm trained Stockholm in the $40,000 Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup.
Lundholm has given Stockholm four runs back from a spell and he was tested in good company when finishing ninth behind Gallant Star in the WRA Country Championships at Coonamble
Buckley's opening ride of the day at Parkes is on the Brad Widdup prepared Turning Circle in the McPherson's Parts & Services/AEH Group Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1400m).
Turning Circle was placed at Gosford when resuming from a spell and followed that up with a 10th at Kembla Grange before a fourth as favourite at Wyong.
Last start winner Naval Officer awaits Buckley in the D'Aquino's Grand Hotel/Standen Building Class 2 Showcase Handicap (1600m) for trainer Jim McMillan. Naval Officer is on the quick back-up having scored at Wellington on Tuesday when hitting the line strongly.
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The Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones trained recent Sapphire Coast winner Princess Halo is Buckley's mount in the MCA Engineering/Tanswell Transport Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (1000m), while he will ride consistent mare Santasia for Darrell Burnet in the McMahon Building/Zac Kelly Golf Class 2 Showcase Plate (1200m).
Since joining Burnet from trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Santasia has finished second in each of three starts, the latest behind Miss Emma at Wagga.
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Yes, it's 54 holes, but it puts a bit of pressure on that first round to get off to a good start because they are a little bit more of a sprint. "We're still playing a lot of golf. Away from tournaments, enjoying golf more and, when you are enjoying your golf and it's not so much of a grind, that lends itself to better play. "So, yeah, I'd probably disagree with Brandel Chamblee a little bit - a lot." Great mate Cameron Smith has been accused of losing his competitive edge since joining LIV immediately after winning the 2022 British Open at St Andrews. But, also rejecting the notion they have taken the money and run, Leishman also reckons the juices are still flowing for all the LIV players. "I mean, we're all competitive," he said. "A lot of people - the high-level athletes or actors or businessmen or business lady, whatever you want to say, just successful people - they already have the money in the bank and they just want to be successful. "And they want to test themselves. I want to test myself against the best players, and we do that at the LIV events. "Yes, there's no cuts and all that. But once you get into that end of the tournament and it's 'I win or you win', you're not even thinking about all that stuff. "You know, you want to get yourself into that pressure cooker, if you call it that, and test yourself under the most immense pressure and see if you can handle it. "That's why whether I'm playing the Victorian PGA or the LIV Miami or the US Open, I want to try to win."
