Chris Parnham Wins National Jockey Title

Chris Parnham has taken out Australia’s National Jockey Premiership by adding a double at Belmont in Perth, a result that not only sealed his crown by a reasonable margin of six over NSW-based Blaike McDougall, but also elevated him to a double centurion. The young Perth rider, who is a son of leading local trainer Neville Parnham, brought up winner #201 of the 2020-21 season aboard 7YO gelding Mervyn (Henny Hughes) in Saturday’s $100,000 Jockey Celebration Day Sprint (1000m) at Belmont Park, leaving trainer Luke Fernie to enthuse, “Chris Parnham is a superstar jockey and he cleverly judged pace on Mervyn.” Parnham reflected on his season’s achievement, telling thewest.com.au, “It’s unbelievable! I set out this season with a goal to top 100 wins and I’ve doubled that tally.” Earlier on the card, Parnham brought up his two hundredth victory when winning by nearly 2-lengths with Treasured Crown (So You Think) for trainer Adam Durrant. Parnham earned 129 Black Type Premiership points, with his best results including success in the Gr1 Kingston Town Stakes on ill-fated Truly Great (Dundeel), and runner-up in the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes where subsequent Group 1 winner Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) finished runner-up.