Parnham Discovers Guineas Hope
14 June, 2018
Thoroughbred
Neville Parnham believes his hopes in Saturday week’s Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m) has been bolstered after Ouqba Jack confirmed his credentials at Belmont on Wednesday.
Parnham intends to aim high and raise the bar with Ouqba Jack who bounced back to record his third career win in the J.J Richards & Sons Handicap (1400m).
“I think he is a horse who can get out to a mile,” Parnham said.
“We will see how he pulls up, but we might even put in a nomination for the Belmont Guineas.
“I have always had a healthy opinion of him and hopefully he can train on.
“We just might go to the Belmont Guineas.”
Yesterday, Ouqba Jack settled back from a wide draw and finished powerfully to get the better of runner-up Heart Of Coeur over the final 200m.
Parnham says Ouqba Jack is racing in terrific order and if not for some bad luck he would hold an unbetaen record since resuming his campaign in April
After posting successive wins at Ascot and Northam, the promising three-year-old had his colours lowered at Belmont when well beaten by Arcadia Prince.
“He has had a good campaign and only one little blemish when it was very wet at Belmont against quality horses,” Parnham said.
“His first two runs he raced with no luck at all when three deep with no cover and he kept coming.
“They were really good wins and we went into that race at Belmont thinking he would go very well.
“There were very wet conditions leading into it and I don’t think he handled it the surface that well.”
Ouqba Jack gave Parnham and his jockey son, Steven, the second leg of a double after Comparative scored earlier.
Steven Parnham says Ouqba Jack’s form is hard to ignore and warrants a shot at the Belmont Guineas on June 23.
“He has found a bit of form since being gelded this preparation,” Parnham said.
“Apart from his last run he has been unbeaten.
“When I was riding him in his previous preparation I thought he would get a mile.
“His win was good enough to warrant going that way (Belmont Guineas) and hopefully he can run well.”
Julio Santarelli.