Paul Harvey picks up Belmont Sprint ride on Platoon after Steven Parnham’s delayed return from injury

Champion hoop Paul Harvey has been booked to ride Platoon in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on Saturday after Steven Parnham’s return from a fractured collarbone was delayed. Parnham received the news he feared was coming on Tuesday after another CT scan revealed he needed surgery. The four-time Group 1-winning hoop had aimed to return to ride Platoon after fracturing his left collarbone in a race fall at Ascot on March 31. “It hasn’t progressed very much in the last three or four weeks,” Parnham said. “I’m having surgery on Thursday. They will remove the original plate in there, clean out the area, put a bone graft in between and place a larger plate over the top of the fracture area. “That will put me out for another period of time, somewhere between four and eight weeks. “In the back of my mind I knew what was coming, but I was hoping for better news. “I was really looking forward to riding Platoon and one of Dad’s (trainer Neville Parnham’s) two-year-olds, Vampi At Play. “I’m disappointed but hopefully the surgery goes well.” Neville Parnham said Platoon, who ran third in the Perth Cup (2400m) in January, was primed for his first run since the Bunbury Cup (2100m) on March 5. “He hasn’t trialled but he’s quite forward and he goes well fresh,” Neville Parnham said. “He should acquit himself well. I’m looking forward to the 1600 (Hyperion Stakes) and 2000 (Strickland Stakes) as they are a bit more in his wheelhouse.” Clint Johnston-Porter will ride progressive galloper God Has Chosen, who is chasing a third straight win in the Belmont Sprint. Trainer Lindsey Smith said he wasn’t concerned about a big ratings penalty if God Has Chosen, who boasts a rating of 90, won the $200,000 feature. “There isn’t a lot around for him and he’ll have to step up to beat a horse like Red Can Man,” Smith said. “This race and the next two (Hyperion and Strickland) will give us a good look at how good he is.” Joseph Azzopardi replaces Johnston-Porter on Massimo. Meanwhile, Manhattan Rain has been acquired by a group of WA breeders and will stand for $8800 at Geisel Park Stud. The half-brother to champion sire Redoute’s Choice has sired Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, South African Group 1 winner Whisky Baron and another 30 stakes performers. The son of Encosta De Lago won the Sires’ Produce Stakes in Sydney as a two-year-old and ran second to So You Think in the Cox Plate at three.

Paul Harvey picks up Belmont Sprint ride on Platoon after Steven Parnham’s delayed return from injury

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