Parnham’s Secret Doubt
28 June, 2016
Thoroughbred
Trainer Neville Parnham is confident Secret Doubt can be a major force as she ramps up her bid for next month’s Belmont Oaks on Wednesday.
Parnham expects Secret Doubt and Lindsey Smith’s Black Smuggler to fight out the finish in the Hahn Ultra Dry Handicap (1675m).
Black Smugger failed to escape Parnham’s attention and those of punters after he posted an impressive maiden win at Northam last month.
After racing away to defeat his next rival by a dominant five lengths, Smith has wasted no time in bringing the Captain Sonador gelding to town.
Parnham believes Secret Doubt is warming up to her best following a summer spell and several encouraging runs behind leading three-year-olds.
The Not A Single Doubt filly ran fourth to Arcadia Dream and third to Who Dat Singa, the first two placegetters respectively in April’s WA Derby (2400m).
“I think her last two runs have been terrific,” Parnham said on TABradio.
“She is on trial to go onto something like the Belmont Oaks.
“She was coming to the end of her preparation last year against some handy horses.
“She is not a big horse, but is much stronger.
“I like her chances although Lindsey Smith’s horse was a pretty strong winner.
“He is going to test us, but she is going pretty well.
“Her work is better than going into her last start.
“She will run one or two.”
Checkers, who tackles the Perth Racing Facebook Handicap (1650m), has hardly put a foot wrong since recovering from injury last year.
The Stratum gelding has not finished out of the money in five of six starts since stepping out for his maiden appearance 12-months back.
The three-year-old is coming off a last-start second to Mosseratti, beaten one length, after gaining an inside run from the cutaway.
“He is a promising horse who ran a really nice race at his first start last year, but unfortunately chipped a knee,” Parnham said.
“He had a good long spell and his form since coming back has been really good, except for one run and I’m not sure what went wrong.
“But his last run was very good and even though he is carrying a lot of weight for a three-year-old he is well within himself and his work is better again.
“He is right in the mix.”
After placings in three warm up trials Jazari is ready to step out in the Schweppes Plate (1000m).
Parnham expects a forward showing.“He is quite a promising horse and will certainly make the grade,” Parnham said.
“He is in with each way claims.”
Julio Santarelli