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By Ray Hickson

Josh Parr knows he has big shoes to fill replacing Yutaka Take on the Japanese visitor Obamburumai but after a gallop at Rosehill he’s warming to his chances of snaring the $10m James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) on Saturday.

Josh Parr with Obamburumai and trainer Keiji Yoshimura (right) at Rosehill.

And after his trainer Keiji Yoshimura explained the meaning behind the horse’s name – essentially to be hospitable or to party – the celebrations could be something else should he get the job done.

Parr was called up at the eleventh hour to partner the four-year-old when Take was injured last weekend and not able to travel so he’s wasted no time in familiarising himself.

“I’m actually very disappointed he isn’t coming, I was looking forward to sharing the jockeys room with him,’’ Parr said.

“I’m excited though to be picking up the ride.

“He’s a classic athlete, a combination of strength, stamina, and speed all in the one package. I’m quite taken by what I felt, his work was very impressive.”

Obamburumai galloped over 1000m on the course proper, with rival trainer Chris Waller keeping an eye on the work, and Parr said everything about him says he’s a quality racehorse.

With only five starts under his belt, for three wins including a Group 2 and Group 3 plus a last start Group 1 placing, it’s easy to think he’s too inexperienced for the test that awaits him but that wasn’t his new jockey’s assessment.

“We have a very capable horse and an intelligent horse,’’ he said.

“What I did learn and what I’m amazed with is a lightly raced horse from a different country has turned up here at Rosehill on his own and handled it with ease.

“I was instructed to keep something in hand, to run approximately 12 seconds the last 200m and I think we went pretty close to that with plenty left in store.

“He’s not overly big in stature but that’s soon forgotten the moment I cantered off on him. His action is so fluid and he has a long stride.”

After drawing gate two in the crucial barrier draw, trainer Keiji Yoshimura said he’s confident Obamburumai will have his opportunity to win.

And he’s a little bit bullish too.

He feels the horse will have no trouble with Rosehill, which he says is a little like Hanshin, a track he’s won at in Japan, and was suitably impressed with his work.

“It was a brilliant piece of work, striding really well, and at the same time the jockey had a very good handle on the horse,’’ Yoshimura said.

“I do feel confident after watching him gallop, he’s a small horse but he has a pretty good stride.

“The most important thing for me is to get Obamburumai in his best condition for him to be able to run his race.”

He was an $11 chance with TAB on Wednesday following the ideal draw.

When asked what was behind the meaning of the name Obamburumai, Yoshimura explained it’s something like a philanthropist or someone who is hospitable.

Obamburumai stretches out at Rosehill under Josh Parr in his final piece of work for Saturday’s $10m James Squire Golden Eagle 🦅 pic.twitter.com/LBbAvbUGcd

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 31, 2023

So it’s not a surprise connections are keen to take part in a race like the Golden Eagle, not just because it’s a $10 million race, that has philanthropy at its heart - with 10 per cent of the horse’s prizemoney going to Riding For The Disabled NSW.

“In Japanese it means someone who is willing to give to others, like take everyone out for a drink or a beer,’’ he said.

“It would be considered 'obamburumai' to take them out for dinner or a party.”

All the fields and form for Saturday’s Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens