Parnham Holds Strong Hand In Northerly Stakes
Neville Parnham’s top stakes gallopers Kay Cee and Platoon are set to give him a potent-two-pronged attack in Saturday’s Group 3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Kay Cee, last year’s Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) champion, will head into her first major test of the season with just the one barrier trial, but Parnham is happy with her progress.
Parnham elected not to trial Kay Cee at Belmont on Monday in the lead-up to the Northerly Stakes, a race he has won two times previously with Playing God and Superior Star.
Instead Kay Cee worked on the main grass at Ascot last Saturday with stable mate Indian Pacific and Parnham was more than happy with the hit out.
“She had a really solid hit out and didn’t need to trial on Monday, Parnham told The Races WA.
“I also didn’t want to back her up which is something I prefer not to do.
“She went into her first trial a little underdone after a slight cough.
“She is over that now and I’m happy with where she is at.
“She will be fit for 1400m first-up, but won’t be fully wound up.”
Platoon was punched out to run third behind Valour Road in a 1000m barrier trial at Belmont last month.
The Listed J.C.Roberts (1800m) winner has not raced since ending a winless autumn campaign in the Old Comrade Stakes (1600m) last April.
“He is working really well and is in a good frame of mind,” Parnham said.
“I expect him to run really well and he is a little bit forward than Kay Cee.
“I don’t want to label him the pick of my two for this race because you can never underestimate Kay Cee.
“He wasn’t quite at his best last campaign, but he is in a much better place this time.”
Indian Pacific will test his Winterbottom credentials first-up in the Listed Crawford Stakes (1000m)
A winner in five of seven races, the Zoustar gelding tuned up for his maiden black-type race by winning a 1000m barrier trial.
“His target is the Winterbottom Stakes and hopefully he can measure up,” Parnham said.
”Hopefully with good performances he will be afforded the opportunity.”
Parnham is keeping his options open on veteran Malibu Style, who looked sharp in taking out a 1000m trial on Monday.
“I’ll nominate him for the Crawford, but I’m leaning towards the Prince Of Wales (1000m) in a couple of weeks,” Parnham said.
”I will just see how he is in the next couple of days.”
Parnham is upbeat on Neufbosc after the stayer ran fifth to Malibu Style in Monday’s trial.
A Melbourne Cup entrant last year, the former French import was having his first public appearance for Parnham.
“He found the line really well off a sharp speed,” Parnham said.
“He wasn’t asked to do a lot.
“I think he can run a race fresh over a mile or less.
“Maybe a race like the Asian Beau (1400m) or Peters (1500m).
“His aim is the Perth Cup (2400m), but he has been impressive and is coming together.”
Julio Santarelli