European Stayer Aimed At Perth Cup
European stayer Neufbosc is set to continue his racing career in Perth under top trainer, Neville Parnham and be aimed at the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) in January.
Formerly trained in France, Neufbosc came to Australia having finished second to Kew Gardens in a Group 1 race at Longchamp last year before contesting the Prix de I’Arc Triomphe three months later.
The Mastercraftsman gelding contested last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) for the Hayes-Hayes-Dabernig training partnership, but failed to live up to expectations when he finished 21st of 24 to Vow And Declare.
Parnham is hoping to get the best out of Neufbosc with the French-bred import enjoying just one top three finish in 12 starts in Australia, a third behind Azuro in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) last November.
“The owners paid a lot of money for him and are hoping to recoup something,” Parnham told The Races WA.
‘They’ve sent him over for softer races and hopefully he can get the job done.
“He arrived in Perth about two weeks ago and will begin his preparation next week.
“He’ll be prepared for the Perth Cup and hopefully he can get back on track.
“Sometimes those horse just need extra time to acclimatize and hopefully I can get the benefit of that.
“I like the horse.”
Meanwhile Parnham’s exciting sprinter Indian Pacific is spelling after an impressive campaign, the pinnacle a sizzling victory at his previous start when the four-year-old led to win by 4 ½ lengths.
“He will stay out for approximately a month and be set for races like the Colonel Reeves and Crawford Stakes,” Parnham said.
“If all goes well he could go into the Winterbottom Stakes which might not be as strong this year with the absence of eastern states horses.”
Parnham confirmed Malibu Style was also on a Winterbottom Stakes path and would bypass resuming in feature Belmont races.
The nine-year-old last raced at Flemington in July when placed third to Lord Von Costa in the Victorian Sprint Series Final.
“He’ll come back for similar races to Indian Pacific and maybe even the Prince Of Wales,” Parnham said.
“He won’t race at Belmont, he just needed extra time to get over the trip from Melbourne.
“If he continued a winter campaign I wouldn’t be able to get him back for the Ascot carnival.”
Parnham said he was looking forward to the return of Platoon, third in last year’s Railway Stakes (1600m).
“He’s enjoyed a good break and looks fantastic,” Parnham said.
“He’s a far more mature horse that has thickened up.
“He’s a different horse to what he was last preparation.”
Julio Santarelli