Memory Parade produced a Listed Northam Cup upset as Tash Faithfull made an audacious move 600 metres from home to guide the $16 outsider to victory in the $150,000, 1600-metre race.
Faithfull was caught three wide without cover but sent the six-year-old War Chant mare forward when the pace eased. Memory Parade surged to the lead on entering the straight and held off favourite Aberdeen Flyer by one and three-quarter lengths.
Aberdeen Flyer, priced at $2.25, was inclined to lay in and took time to mount a challenge. Memory Parade, driven along by Faithfull, maintained her momentum to complete the upset.
The result extended Faithfull’s impressive run in country cups this year, following her victories in the Geraldton and Kalgoorlie Cups aboard Royal Law.
“There wasn’t a lot of speed in the race, and I sort of thought that, on paper,” Faithfull said.
“They walked. I had a bit of cover early. Then when the speed really slackened, she just got too strong.”
Faithfull had studied replays of Memory Parade before the race despite never having ridden her, and believed the mare needed to build momentum to succeed.
“I’ve never watched as many replays of a horse as I did this morning. And I’ve obviously never ridden her, but I felt like I knew her inside out, and I knew that she was a momentum horse,” she said.
“Any chance she had of getting away from Royal Toronado was to get on her bike, get her in a good rhythm, and give him something to catch. And that we did.”
She admitted Memory Parade’s acceleration had exceeded her expectations after the mare appeared more of a grinder in previous races.
“But when I popped out and she loomed up, gee, she gave me such a good feel,” Faithfull said. “She actually really let down with a great turn of foot. So, oh, I was really impressed with her.”
Trainers Sean and Jake Casey, who also prepared runner-up Aberdeen Flyer, were celebrating another strong weekend after winning Saturday’s Belgravia Stakes with Beatty.
Jake Casey said he had considered Aberdeen Flyer the stronger chance but felt Memory Parade had been competing well and had suffered misfortune in her previous starts.
“She just always seems to go better in these higher pressure races and she’s deserves it,” he said.
The victory was particularly significant for the stable’s longtime clients, the Durran family. Casey said Memory Parade had responded when the pace slackened approaching the turn.
“Once they slackened the speed a little bit on the corner, the mare wanted to get going and Tash just went with her,” he said. “She won easy.”
