Fighting for his rides is par for the course for jockey Cory Parish so he is prepared for the battle he faces to hold his position early in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
Parish battled in his first years in Victoria after arriving from New Zealand and has become a fixture in the Lindsay Park operation purely because of his strong work ethic at the stable's Tatura base.
Parish has continually done the hard yards for trainers David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig to earn his chance at a Caulfield Cup aboard the $15 chance Boom Time.
David Hayes usually has to convince owners of Parish's ability with wayward horses but the trainer is the sole owner of Boom Time and stuck with the jockey after the pair combined to run fourth in the Group II Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last Saturday.
Parish became a target for his fellow riders when Boom Time drew barrier three and the former Perth stayer is a good chance to land in a good position behind the lead, which will become prime real estate heading in the crucial first turn in the Caulfield Cup.
But Parish says he won't be intimated when challenged by the big names.
"It's a $3 million race so they'll be doing their very best to take the position I've got," Parish said.
"I can hold my own just as well and when the pressure comes on, you have got to make sure you're able to be in the game.
"You can't let the well-known jockeys dictate to you because you're in the spot they want and you have to be just as on the ball as them."
While Boom Time is at big odds in the Caulfield Cup, Parish said giving the horse every chance in the $3 million event is his main consideration to repay the faith of Hayes and his other supporters.
"David has always been loyal to me and has given me as much of a go as he can and I just take every part when it comes," Parish said.
"No-one had any faith that I would get to where I am now and even just riding in Victoria has been a bonus for me and I just take it as it comes.
"Hopefully I can turn the luck around and not only prove (his ability) to everyone, but reward the ones around me that have helped me to get going and go on from there."
While Boom Time missed a place in the smartly-run Herbert Power Stakes, Parish said there was something to like about his effort behind Lord Fandango.
"He was the only horse that was up on the pace to finish off his race after the hot pace in the Herbert Power," Parish said.
"I think if he can back up, hopefully it means he can run the race quieter and that will mean he can give even more at the end.
"He's just as much allowed to be in there as much as any other horse and it comes down to how much he can handle the day."
