Family inspires Shane Parrish to winning return

By Jordan Gerrans

Shane Parrish’s harness-intrigued young daughter has sparked a winning return to the code for the Queensland horseman.

The 60-year-old has been away from the training ranks since the 2019-20 campaign despite still being involved in the sport as an owner with a few pacers owned by his family members.

Parrish has been back at the races with a small team in 2026 and scored his first winner back on Sunday afternoon at Marburg.

Siya delivered Parrish with his maiden victory back in the game since the 2018-19 term when the mare won the opening event from Marburg.

Parrish’s young daughter Danniella is interested in getting involved in the Mini trotting scene, which sparked her father’s return to the code.

“She's just got a mini trotter now,” Parrish said.

“So, we're just starting to get back into it over the last probably last six months or so. Her horse is just coming back from the break-in now.

“She got a Shetland pony at Christmas time a year-and-a-half ago and she's pretty keen to start getting on in races. 

"So, we thought we'll go back in on giving it a go, as well.”

Siya has been in the care of Parrish since the early stages of 2026 after previously racing in regional New South Wales.

As well as training her, he also owns the pacer.

The seven-year-old mare had a previous stint with Matt Elkins in 2024 where she had three starts at Queensland tracks without success.

In the daughter of Hes Watching’s seventh start for Parrish on Sunday afternoon over 1850 metres, Siya scored by a touch over two metres as a $9.50 shot.

“I thought she might win on Sunday, she ran a good third the week before at Redcliffe,” the trainer said.

“She was pretty unlucky and found the line well the start before. I bought her off a bloke down south, he just couldn't get her going, he reckoned.

“I just wanted another horse to put her into the stable because I am just kicking back off again. She's going good now.

“She is still learning how to race as we saw on Sunday.”

Driven by Jordan Topping, Siya sat fourth on the outside as they approached the home turn.

The 23-year-old Topping got going with around 300 metres to travel and was able to eventually wear down early leader Schmiki in the run to the line.

“Jordan did a good job on her,” the trainer said.

“She's a very underrated driver, that girl. 

"She's got really good hands on a horse and a lot of horses travel for her.

“She seems to get a lot of horses travelling for her, but she doesn't get a lot of opportunities.

“I'll just keep on trying to use her as much as I can.”

Parrish prepares his small team of pacers alongside his fellow harness participant family members - Noel Parrish (older brother) and Trent Hodges (nephew) – who were also active on Sunday’s Marburg program.

As well as Siya in his barn, Parrish also prepares Twosipsally who finished back in the field in her race on Sunday. 

Twosipsally will be back at the races on Wednesday at Redcliffe, which will be her fourth run for the barn. 

Parrish was disappointed with the bay mare’s run on Sunday and he is hopeful for an improved performance around ‘The Triangle’.

“She's been working really well at home,” he said.

“But, just the last two starts, she just hasn't put it together. I'm just trying to change a few things around for her on Wednesday night.

“In her first start, we had her going really good and she's actually improved a lot in her fast work. But, she's just not putting it there on race day.

“She was well below par on Sunday. We are always trying to improve things with her feed.”

Parrish enjoyed success with horses such as Speed Gypsie in his early stint in the training ranks. 

Speed Gypsie won 11 races and placed 14 more times for Parrish between 1999 and 2001.