Nickelplay and Grigsby out for Burgess Queen crowning glory in Tuesday’s Ascot Melbourne Cup Day feature

With nine broken ribs and punctured lungs, eventually passing out from lack of breath, you could hardly blame Jenae Grigsby for turning her back on the racing industry altogether. At Broome Racecourse, often regarded as the most picturesque in the world, Grigsby created the perfect juxtaposition as she lay in ruins of dirt after falling from Hub Reduction on July 7, 2012. Not only that, but the on-course ambulance failed to answer the call for help. Luckily, her greatest mentor and ostensible guardian angel, Mark Sestich, was first on the scene. A 2022 Hall Of Fame inductee, Sestich landed four consecutive jockey premierships from 1988/89 to 1991/92 in a glittering career that netted eight Group 1s. But Sestich also knew the hardships of race riding, with a 2002 fall ending his career in the saddle after well in excess of a thousand winners. Now, years later, the two work closely at champion trainer Neville Parnham’s stables in Ascot, with Grigsby treasuring the connection from her near father figure. “He was pretty much my idol; we’re very close,” Grigsby said. “If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here. “He’s very good at everything, really, and if you ever need any help with any horse, I just ask him.” Their contribution isn’t one that the master trainer considers lightly, with Parnham and his great mate “Ses’” relationship standing the test of time. “Ses has been with me for 16 or 17 years since he retired from riding and got over his bad injury,” Parnham said. “He graduated from being one of my workers to my foreman. “We’ve had a lot of success over that time and even prior to that, he was my stable rider. “We’ve known each other for 45 years now and he plays a very important role. “Jenae was apprenticed to me and she’s been working for me for 15 years now. “They’re both loyal workers and have got senior positions now making sure everything ticks over. “Without those kind of people, you don’t have the success you have.” That success can’t be undersold, with the venerable conditioner winning 11 training premierships in a row and collecting the 14th of his career in 2023. Playing God, WA’s latest super-sire and multiple Group 1 winner trained by Parnham, is now passing the winning formula on to his offspring. Bonny mare Kay Cee and last year’s Railway Stakes winner Bustler both secured top-level wins, while breakout potential star September Born are all Playing God jets propelled by Parnham. With horsepower like that, it’s hard to leave. “I have only ever worked for Neville,” Grigsby said. “He was a family friend and I left school after year 10 and signed up as an apprentice to him. “I had no idea how to ride a horse but Neville put me on a few quiet ones. “I just loved horses and that’s why I got involved - mum used to pick me up every Wednesday early so I could go to the races. “He was so good to me. He sent slow horses everywhere and I really wanted to win on this one horse before I retired so he sent it to Leinster for me.” Not only did Grigsby recover after her Broome fall, but she bounced straight back into the saddle two months later and rode a winner for Parnham in October. After more success over the following six months, including two victories on 2011 Perth Cup winner Guest Wing late in his career, Grigsby guided home that cherished horse Lottabiz, her first trial ride in April 2011, for her final win at that Leinster meeting in April 2013. After her jockey career concluded, Grigsby explored other paths but despite the gruelling hours, found the hook in her cheek reeling her back to the love of the animal. “I did have a career change for a while when I finished riding - I went and worked a ‘normal’ job and I hated it. I missed it too much,” Grigsby said. “Sometimes I miss riding, and other times I’m quite happy to just be on the ground. “I get here at about 3:15am, and then we feed them, we start working them and finish about 8:30, 9:00 and I go home and get ready for the races or trials. Less than two weeks ago, Grigsby strapped Parnham’s filly Nickelplay for her first win as she roared her way into contention for Tuesday’s Listed $125,000 TABtouch Burgess Queen Stakes, for which she was slashed from $12 into $6.50 by the race sponsor on Monday. “Nickelplay is a very sweet horse to have around the stables; she’s very quiet,” Grigsby said. “It makes you feel pretty special because she’s such a quiet horse to have around and then she knows her job on race day. “She’s so quiet even when the jockey jumps on and she just wakes up when she comes out of the gates.” Parnham will also be represented by Divine Impact, a winner of her only two starts this campaign who has also attracted interest from $9 to $7. “There’s very little between them,” Parnham said. “They galloped on Friday morning on the main grass at Ascot and both went very well. “A lot of people think Nickelplay is the lead contender, but the other horse is absolutely glowing. “She can’t do anything more than win twice first and second-up. “In previous years, we had Amelia’s Jewel beaten by Laced Up Heels, Super Smink looked the dominant filly, and last year Keshi Boom emerged. “But this year, there doesn’t seem to be any horse in that calibre at the minute.” Come 4:30pm on Tuesday, there’s every chance Parnham’s rich dynasty will only get deeper, with both fillies sired by Playing God and ridden by his sons Steven and Chris. + Racing WA is today launching a new “Racing Towards Better” campaign designed to show how the industry cares for both its animal and human participants, in addition to its value as an economic and social driver across WA. “It isn’t just about the thrill of a race, it’s about the countless hours we put into making those races possible,” Racing WA chief executive Ian Edwards said. “We celebrate the community that racing connects, knowing it links us in meaningful ways. It’s why we work so hard – so that all of WA can enjoy racing now, and into the future.”