Parisian Walkway completes a start to finish victory in the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m (JC Photos)
Alec Laird praised his wife Kate for finally identifying what was bothering the classy five-year-old Ideal World gelding Parisian Walkway, who booked his place in the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup by winning Sunday’s Gr 2 TAB Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside.
Parisian Walkway looked to have a fine career ahead of him after winning the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas for connections Gary Basel, Lance Clark and Werner Volschenk in February 2025.
However, on top of receiving a 14 point merit rating raise to go up to 121, he thereafter just never appeared to be a particularly happy horse.
He consistently earned cheques but Sunday was the first time he had won a race since the Gauteng Guineas.
So there was a 21 month gap between drinks.
Alec said, “He always looked well, but he was not a happy horse and when we gave him a long break my wife Kate took care of him and gave him plenty of TLC. She got to the bottom of his issues. When running blood tests on his liver enzymes we found out he was slightly bilious. We changed his feed and there were a couple of other things that were worrying him which were sorted out. Kate deserves the credit for turning him around.”
Sunday’s race finally took place after 5 p.m. on a day with many delays due to lightning and the lights had to be put on.
It looked to be set up for the rangy chestnut, whom Alec always believed was looking for more ground than a mile due to his pedigree.
He was back to a 107 merit rating and there was very little pace in the race, so as a natural front-runner he was going to have an opportunity to dictate.
That was exactly what he did after getting to the front fairly comfortably under Kobeli Lihaba from a tricky draw of six in the ten horse field.
Parisian Walkway kept going well in the straight, keeping Rule By Force, who had sat in a one out and one back position, at bay to win by 0,70 lengths and give Kobeli Lihaba his first Graded victory.
The second-placed horse was also the subject of perseverance. Trainer Joe Soma in fact produced a fine training feat as this was the seven-year-old Pomodoro gelding’s second run after a very long layoff, with his penultimate start being way back on November 30, 2024, when finishing third in the Summer Cup. Rule By Force carried 57kg and gave Parisian Walkway 6kg, so it was a fine performance.
The former SA Derby winner Legend Of Arthur lay in fifth place on the rail in the running and headed Rule By Force in the chase, but was overtaken late and he finished a 0,90 length third.
Master Spy stayed on well from just backward of midfield for a three length fourth.
The 5/2 favourite Drumnadrochit was dropped out from a wide draw and looked threatening on the outside, but she became one-paced late and was beaten 4,80 lengths into fifth.
The topweight Main Defender also looked threatening in the straight from midfield, but also became one-paced late and was beaten eight lengths.
Palace Prince was the second favourite, but found little in the straight from a handy position.
Parisian Walkway and Rule By Force are now both 25/1 shots in the Summer Cup ante-post market with Hollywoodbets.
