In a week of devastating loss, Tampering has provided Kerry Parker with a reason to smile by taking out the Midway at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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The Nowra-born trainer was left heartbroken by the sudden death of trackwork rider Deanne Pinney on Monday.
The respected jockey had been a fixture at Kembla Grange for more than 30 years, working for Bede Murray during his glory years at the turn of the century and more recently for Parker.
Her death left the Illawarra racing community reeling, jockeys, trainers and officials grieving this week.
Pinney had formed a close bond with stable star Think It Over, riding the gelding each morning.
The six-year-old contested the Group 1 Winx Stakes on Saturday afternoon, running a game sixth.
The event was won by Mo'unga who outduelled Verry Elleegant to take the victory. Bjorn Baker's She's Ideel was third.
Pinney and Parker's connection extends beyond the track, the pair having two children from a past relationship.
Tampering was among the trackwork rider's favourite horses, and Parker said Pinney was there for the race on Saturday.
"This and the other bloke that's in later, they're definitely her favourite two horses," Parker told Sky Racing.
"When they looked like collaring him 100 out, I think Deanne might have given him a little push. I might've got a little bit of help from above there."
Tampering started Saturday's 1600m Midway among the most fancied entrants, jumping at $5.
Jockey Brenton Avdulla had no hesitations working to the front and controlling the pace, ensuring the race was run at an honest tempo.
Instead of fading down the straight, Parker's gelding kicked on to eventually win by half-a-length ahead of Foxborough and Canyonero.
Avdulla was determined to produce a winning ride for the trainer after a challenging week and the jockey was pleased to achieve that goal.
"I had a bit of pressure on me today," Avdulla said.
"It just shows the character of Kerry, he's turned up here, done his job, run his business. I'm feeling for him and the family.
"When the opportunity to either come back or roll forward, I did and kept continuing to increase the speed and then I was able to get a cheap furlong down the side.
"I had to get the plan executed well for Kerry and Deanne looking down from above and it worked out well."
Avdulla was set to ride Think It Over in the Winx Stakes, however Parker was left to find a new jockey after a heavy fall in the Silver Shadow Stakes.
The Group 2 race was a messy affair, multiple horses jostling for position and searching for clear air.
Robert and Luke Price's Jamaea was one of those runners, jockey Tommy Berry attempting to squeeze his way through a tight gap.
Contact followed, Avdulla and his mount Xtremetime hitting the deck in a fall that overshadowed Swift Witness' victory.
Latino Blend finished second, with Four Moves Ahead third and Jamaea fourth.
Avdulla was knocked out in the crash, suffering a bleed on the brain and fractured vertebrae, while Xtremetime was euthanised following the incident.
That saw James Innes jnr guide Think It Over in the Winx Stakes and he could not deliver a memorable victory.
Instead, the jockey caught the eye of the stewards and was handed a 13-day suspension for careless riding after making contact with Hungry Heart at the top of the straight.
"He began really well," Innes said.
"Travelled really well. If we had been a bit smoother, he got out with more momentum he would have been hard to beat."
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