Young jockey Josh Parr is relishing the opportunity to partner Purple in the Apollo Stakes at Rosehill and will use trainer Peter Snowden's faith in him as motivation to try to capture the biggest win of his career to date.Parr's biggest race success so far is the 2008 Group Three Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle on another Snowden runner, Falaise, however with stable rider Kerrin McEvoy in Melbourne to partner the likes of Denman and Secession on Saturday, Parr has been given the chance on the d

Young jockey Josh Parr is relishing the opportunity to partner Purple in the Apollo Stakes at Rosehill and will use trainer Peter Snowden's faith in him as motivation to try to capture the biggest win of his career to date.

Parr's biggest race success so far is the 2008 Group Three Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle on another Snowden runner, Falaise, however with stable rider Kerrin McEvoy in Melbourne to partner the likes of Denman and Secession on Saturday, Parr has been given the chance on the dual Group One-winning mare.

"I'm fortunate that I've got the support of Peter Snowden, he puts his trust in me to get the job done and that alone gives me confidence," Parr said.

"It's a pretty good feather in your cap for Sydney's leading trainer to put his trust in you to ride one of his best horses."

Parr has not been aboard Purple in a race for 20 months but had plenty to do with her early on including riding her in three of her first four starts.

"I remember the first time I rode her (in her second start) at Wyong she ran a really, really good race that day and I said to Peter's foreman Brad (Widdup) after the race that I can't wait to ride her with a set of blinkers on," he said.

"At her next start we took her to the Kenso (Kensington track at Randwick) with blinkers on and she brained them, she won by seven lengths. That was the start of her progression."

Since Parr last rode her in a race Purple has gone on to win the Group One Storm Queen Stakes (2000m), Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) and Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

A win in the Apollo would take her past the $1 million prizemoney barrier.

"Trackwork and barrier trials are all I've been able to have a crack at with her (in recent preparations) but I'm pretty proud of her and quite happy to see what she's been able to do," Parr said.

The hoop recently spent time on the sidelines due to suspensions but has returned in good form with a winner for Snowden at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and also on Thursday night at Canterbury.

He said Purple had come back in great order but also realises the task that awaits the daughter of Commands in the Group Two 1400m contest that features seven Group One winners and four Group Two winners among the 13 runners.

"She's definitely found the hardest race you could find first-up," he said.

"It will nearly be the best race of the autumn but how she has come back she definitely deserves a crack at them. She has proven herself at the top level."

Purple is not untried in weight-for-age company as she finished a close second to Zipping in the Group Two Sandown Classic (2400m) at the end of her spring campaign.