Racing, like most sports, can be a game of inches. Just ask Joshua Parr.The young jockey was left "shattered" at Randwick two weeks ago when his mount Skilled went down by only a short half-head in the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes.That narrow defeat came just two hours after he chased down Beaded aboard Renaissance to win the Group Two Sapphire Stakes by an even smaller margin.Parr gets the chance to atone for Skilled's Sires defeat when he rides the Peter Snowden-trained colt again in Saturd

Racing, like most sports, can be a game of inches. Just ask Joshua Parr.

The young jockey was left "shattered" at Randwick two weeks ago when his mount Skilled went down by only a short half-head in the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes.

That narrow defeat came just two hours after he chased down Beaded aboard Renaissance to win the Group Two Sapphire Stakes by an even smaller margin.

Parr gets the chance to atone for Skilled's Sires defeat when he rides the Peter Snowden-trained colt again in Saturday's Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

And in an ironic twist, he'll also jump aboard Beaded for the Group One All-Aged Stakes (1400m) as he chases a breakthrough victory at the elite level.

"I'm still shattered," Parr said of Skilled's narrow defeat by Yosei in the Sires.

"He only needed to find an inch more and he wins, but I think he will learn from that race as I think he's learned from all his races so far.

"We had to lead on him that day too which probably wasn't ideal - I think he's more of a chaser."

Skilled is one of two runners for Snowden in the Champagne with the stable's number one rider Kerrin McEvoy sticking with Divorces.

Parr said Skilled worked nicely on Tuesday morning and, unlike early days, looks like he'll now be suited going up to 1600m for the first time.

"He's got the perfect attitude to get the mile. He does everything in such a laid-back style and that should help him run the extra 200 metres," he said.

"He's in good order.

"He's always shown us plenty of ability but early on we actually thought he was just a quick, speedy thing. The further we've gone on though, the more the mile looked like it would be his go."

Beaded, meanwhile, is being asked to take on some of the country's top weight-for-age performers in the All-Aged (1400m) but she has one thing going for her.

"She's such a trier," Parr said.

"She's only a pony - she's very small - but she has a big heart and is very consistent."

David Payne, meanwhile, would have had three runners in the Champagne but was forced to scratch Bombay on Friday when the filly was treated for a bout of colic.

He'll now be represented by Iron Lace and Praecido who finished third and fifth respectively in the Fernhill Handicap (1600m) last Saturday.

"The filly (Iron Lace) has just come on nicely in the last few weeks and we've always fancied Praecido getting up to a mile," Payne said.

"I think they've both come on since last week and I think with a bit of luck they can be there."