The son of legendary Perth-based trainer Neville, and the younger sibling to successful jockeys Steven and Brad, Chris has forged his own path in recent years and the 24-year-old's ninth season in the saddle has proven his most fruitful.
He booted home 201 winners from 998 rides to be crowned Australia's most successful jockey, ensuring that the national title remained in the hands of a WA-based rider for the sixth consecutive season. He fended off NSW-based counterpart Blaike McDougall in a fiercely contested premiership to lead by six winners, claiming the title that fellow WA-based rider Willie Pike had held for the past five seasons.
“It was a really amazing feeling, I never thought that I would achieve it. So, to be able to do it and walk out of the races on Saturday knowing I had done it was extremely satisfying,” Parnham told TDN AusNZ.
Chris Parnham
“During the season it never sunk in just how many winners I had been riding and on Saturday night when reflecting, it all sunk in, as there was a lot of hard work that went into the success I had during the season.”
The names beneath him on the Premiership table speak to the magnitude of his achievement. In third place was Tommy Berry on 171, while James McDonald was fourth on 161. Pike, who spent much more time riding interstate last season, finished with 153 winners.
Group 1 glory
It was also a season where Parnham secured his maiden Group 1 success aboard the Bob Peters-owned, Grant and Alana Williams-trained Truly Great (Dundeel {NZ}) in December’s G1 Kingston Town Classic. He would also go on to partner Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to victory in the G2 Perth Cup the following month for his father.
They were two of the 14 victories in stakes races for Parnham, with his most recent on the progressive mare Amasenus (Time For War), in the Listed HG Bolton S., on whom he won seven races for the season.
Amasenus (red and black silks)
Through the season, he rode 26 winners for his father and 25 for the Williamses, 20 for Simon Miller and 18 for Dan Morton.
Of his 201 winners, 74 came at Ascot and 54 at Belmont, while he also rode winners at nine other Western Australian tracks.
Hard work pays off
Parnham credits an increased work ethic coupled with greater opportunities from the likes of Peters to his meteoric rise this season.
“Bob Peters has been one who has really supported me since I was an apprentice and I’ve ridden a lot of winners for him,” he said.
“Bob Peters has been one who has really supported me since I was an apprentice and I’ve ridden a lot of winners for him.” - Chris Parnham
“So, getting that Group 1 was the highlight of my life, it doesn’t get much better than that. It had been a long time coming and to do it on that day was very special.
“And those two ingredients being hard work and opportunity are what’s required to ride a large volume of winners. I also feel I have improved as a rider which ultimately leads to landing better opportunities.”
Parnham said he was never pushed to take up a career in racing despite being immersed in the industry from birth.
He described brothers Steven and Brad, along with veteran jockey Patrick Carbery, as big influences along his journey, saying the trio have helped shaped him as a rider and person.
“Racing was all I ever knew, and I can honestly say that I don’t remember anything else other than racing, but I was never pushed into becoming a jockey because I always loved and wanted to do it,” Parnham said.
“Racing was all I ever knew, and I can honestly say that I don’t remember anything else other than racing, but I was never pushed into becoming a jockey because I always loved and wanted to do it.” - Chris Parnham
“However, I’ve been very lucky to have the support I have had, as my brothers who I’m very close with have helped me out a lot, they’ve done wonders for me.
“Another big supporter is my mum (Carolyn). She would drive me to all the race meetings in my younger days and now she still doesn’t miss a city meeting that I ride at.”
On the road
Parnham completed successful short riding stints in Victoria in 2015 and 2018 and isn’t ruling out crossing the Nullarbor in the future, saying he is destined to prove himself against the best riders Australia has to offer.
“I would never rule out riding in Victoria or NSW but at the present, I am in no hurry to leave Perth, but you never know what opportunities can come about and I would certainly consider every opportunity that was placed before me,” Parnham said.
“However, I will definitely ride somewhere else in the next few years, but I can’t see it happening in the short term unless someone calls me with a very good offer.”
Parnham remains motivated to carry his momentum into the 2021/22 season, saying he isn’t going to become complacent.
“I just want to remain at the top level in the metropolitan area and the motivation is to ride in, and win, the big races. I will be working extremely hard later in the year to try and win another Group 1 or feature race over our carnival, as that’s why we do it,” he said.
