Parchment Party monsters Belmont Gold Cup

Top US-based jockey John Velazquez Jnr produced a patient and perfectly timed ride to steer Parchment Party to victory in the golden ticket race at Saratoga, New York into Australia’s most famous race in November. 

The Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) was to be run on the turf course over the Lexus Melbourne Cup distance of 3200-metres but heavy rain forced a switch to the wet weather affected dirt course with the trip brought back to 2800-metres.

The change made within an hour of the race, the criteria of the golden ticket still stood while four late scratchings including race fancy Limited Liability saw eight starters vie for the prize where Velazquez Jnr and Parchment Party ($16 locally) turned the course change into their favour.

The four-year-old entire reeled in the early leader Yo Daddy ($6) on the home turn to win by more than six-lengths with Padiddle ($13) making late ground for a similar margin away in third. 

Despite the emphatic win, Parchment Party is unlikely to take up the invitation to Flemington as trainer Bill Mott says the son of dirt specialist Constitution does not handle turf surfaces.

Parchment Party ($16 locally) gave Velazquez Jnr his third win in the Belmont Gold Cup in the past five editions including The Grey Wizard in 2024 and Baron Samedi in 2021.

It was also the star jockey’s third winner on the Saratoga card.