Latest News

A lightly-raced colt from one of the most successful families he's ever trained will lead Kerry Parker's home track assault at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The well-bred Walk Like A Man ($2.80 favourite on TAB) will have his second career start when he contests the ITC Legends Raceday CG&E Maiden Handicap (1500m).

Walk Like A Man is a son of Castelvecchio out of the mare Hayaat, who has been a super producer for Parker's longtime ers Alex and Deidre Illes.

It makes Walk Like A Man a three-quarter brother to Parker's former star Hope In Your Heart.

Hope In Your Heart was a Group 2 and Group 3 winner while she was runner-up in the Group 1-Queen Of Turf Stakes in 2023.

Hayaat has also produced Parker-trained city winners Heartlings, Heartlet and Tampering.

Walk Like A Man made a positive first impression to his own racing career, narrowly missing the placings in a 1200m event on his home track a fortnight ago.

"He is a nice horse," Parker said. "The penny has to drop and he's got to learn what it's all about because he is still a bit new.

"He didn't really focus there first-up, so we've put the blinkers on for Saturday to get his mind on the job a little more.

"That day he was a bit concerned about other horses and racing in between. He was more looking at them than thinking about what he was doing."

Keagan Latham rides Walk Like A Man with Parker set to line up three good chances on the card.

The Group 1-winning horseman is excited for the return of Mah Ali ($4.20) in the Norm Munsie ITC Legend Class 1 (1200m).

He has taken over the training duties from Ben Smith since the daughter of More Than Ready was all beaten in Stakes grade on Day 1 of The Championships.

Mah Ali has impressed Parker in the time he's had her, including winning a recent trial over 800m at Kembla last week.

"Mah Ali has worked up nicely and has only had one trial but I was happy with the way she did it," Parker said. "This looks like a nice starting point for her, a Provincial Class 1. It's perfect.

"We will take it one step at a time as we learn a bit more about them and I am still in the early stages."

Audenzia will attempt to go one better in The Illawarra Mercury Gr 3 The Gong F&M Maiden Handicap (1500m). The daughter of Brazen Beau was beaten by a slender by Wexford Miss in her first start for Parker a fortnight ago.

"Audenzia went terrific first-up," Parker said. "She finds herself in a different scenario with a full field and a dry track but she has pleased and bounced on since then.

"I think she's learned a bit out of that." Jeff Penza partners Audenzia ($6.50).

View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here