Goldfields Sprint On God’s Radar
24 June, 2018
Thoroughbred
Hall of Fame trainer Neville Parnham says yesterday’s H.G. Bolton Stakes (1200m) winner War God could develop into the ideal Hannan’s Handicap horse later this year after he upstaged his more fancied rivals at Belmont Park.
War God completed a unique two state double for Parnham yesterday, after Malibu Style won an 1100m Handicap at Flemington earlier in the day.
Parnham said he was pleased to get the War Chant gelding and his owners a Listed win, and would now eye off more sprinting features.
“War God has been a really consistent horse,” he told TABradio’s The Aftermath.
“I was surprised he got to Listed level this quickly.
“He could become a Hannan’s Handicap horse.”
War God was given a perfect trail into the race by jockey Patrick Carbery, three pairs back on the fence, before peeling off heels to wear down placegetters Durendal and Rebel King.
Parnham said War God was a work in progress in the early part of his career, but felt he was starting to blossom as a more seasoned campaigner.
“The owners were asking the question ‘was he worth keeping’,” he said.
“He used to work really well, and I had to keep assuring the team of owners that he will come good.
“He just didn’t have that maturity or strength to finish his races off.
“As he got older and more mature he eventually got there, and when he did he won three on end.”
Parnham’s youngest son Chris was aboard Malibu Style for his win at Flemington, his third in Victoria.
He said it was a confidence boosting win for his son.
“It’s pretty satisfying him getting across the line with Chris on,” he said.
“He probably needed a Saturday winner to get his name back up in lights.
“He’s been going okay over there, but the Saturday win had eluded him until yesterday.”
Parnham had originally planned to leave Malibu Style in the care of a Victorian trainer after an earlier run this campaign, conceding the gelding wasn’t quite up to the level of some of the better sprinters in WA.
After yesterday’s win, he is contemplating giving the gelding another start in the Listed Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) on Flemington Finals Day on July 7.
Meanwhile, trainer Grant Williams will not run three-year-old Tellem We’re Comin in the Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m) or Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) over the next month, following his win over 1300m yesterday.
Ridden by William Pike, the Blackfriars gelding was impressive in his first start since the Group 2 WA Derby, winning by one-and-a-half lengths to Seeker and Flying Roar.
Tim Walker