Courtesy of The West Australian website:

WA sprint star Hardrada is set to clash with the nation's elite three-year-olds in next month's $753,000 Cadbury Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Leading Melbourne doubles bookmaker Michael Eskander has shown a healthy respect for Hardrada, placing him at $21 with Victorian stars Bel Esprit, Broadband, Titanic Jack and Lord Volksrad in his pre-post market.

Eskander has Sydney sensation Thorn Park as outright favourite at $2.25.

Trainer Lou Luciani flew Hardrada to Melbourne last week to prepare for the first stage of his challenge - the Flemington classic on February 15.

Luciani spelled Hardrada after his fifth to Blevvo in the Fruit 'N' Veg Stakes (1800m) on December 7.



FORMER Perth jockey Pat Carbery may rekindle his association with WA trainer Neville Parnham in Melbourne.

Carbery was quick off the mark to chalk up his first Victorian winner - on even-money favourite Kelaman over 1300m at Stawell on Saturday.

The Perth Cup and Railway Stakes-winning jockey began riding trackwork at Caulfield last Tuesday after fulfilling a life-long dream to break into the competitive Victorian riding ranks.

Carbery built a close association with Parnham, WA's premier trainer, when he rode in Perth.

Parnham is taking a squad of horses to Melbourne to launch an assault on the rich sprinkling of second-tier feature events on offer over the autumn carnival.

Carbery was the regular rider of two of Parnham's expedition trio - Trimagic and La Trice Classic winner Fortune Streak.

"There are plenty of races over there that cater to these horses," Parnham said. "Trimagic showed by her good form at Ascot and her sixth in the Fruit 'N' Veg last year, that she deserves a chance at racing in Melbourne."

Parnham has short-course specialist Irish Pride already based in Melbourne. The horse is likely to have his first start in the $75,500 Hyderabad Race Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 8.

Trimagic will race in the $151,000 Vanity Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 9, followed by the $201,000 Armanasco Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on February 22 and $251,000 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington 14 days later. Success in those races may earn the filly a start in the $505,000 Moonee Valley Oaks (2040m) on March 22.

Fortune Streak would be aimed at lesser events such as the $100,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m).

Parnham is also taking his son, Steven, to Melbourne. The apprentice is in line for a three-month stint with leading Victorian trainer Tony McEvoy.

WA apprentice Mark Zahra is already signed to the McEvoy stable but is likely to be out for the next three weeks because of a broken collar-bone.

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