Confidence Is Key For Ellicazoom
9 March, 2018
Thoroughbred
Exciting mare Ellicazoom is set to make her presence felt on her return to racing at Ascot tomorrow in the Fujitsu Ducted Air Handicap (1200m), according to jockey Steven Parnham.
After a frustrating spring campaign in Melbourne, where trainer and Steven’s father Neville said she wasn’t a happy horse, Ellicazoom produced a sound trial at Belmont on February 26 over 1000m.
The four-year-old was unplaced in five starts during the spring, four on the east coast while the other was a five length defeat at the hands of Properantes in the Group 3 R.J Peters Stakes at Ascot.
Parnham, who is back at Ascot tomorrow after riding Malibu Style at Flemington last week, said the mare lacked confidence last preparation, and he hopes the drop back from Group races would help her re-discover it tomorrow.
“She seems to have come back really well,” he said.
“We are expecting a very forward showing first-up.
“She’s eligible for these races and they are worth good money so we need to try and get her back in winning form.”
A winner of the Burgess Queen Stakes in 2016 over 1400m, Parnham expected the mare to take benefit from the run over the sprint journey tomorrow.
She faces 10 rivals in the 1200m event tomorrow, and has been kept safe in betting, where she opened a $3.40 chance on TABtouch.
Get Over It is on the second line of betting at $5, while Max Almighty, The Celt, Candlelight Star and One Short are all in single figure odds.
With Parnham’s youngest brother Chris riding at the Newmarket Handicap meeting in Melbourne, he has also picked up the ride on the in-form Jeraft in the Airspaces Service & Parts Handicap (1400m).
Jeraft was well supported into favouritism last week, but couldn’t run down tearaway leader Nelson’s Flight, and had to settle for a third place finish.
Parnham said he was confident the son of Hala Bek would figure prominently on Saturday.
“I’m happy to pick up the ride off Chris,” he said.
“He’s done a great job this prep.
“He was unlucky last start the way the race unfolded, but if he handles the quick back up he should be in the finish again.”
Parnham also has the ride on Lenience in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m), where the seven-year-old is second-up following a promising performance in the Pinjarra Classic last start.
“He ran a cheeky race at Pinjarra,” he said.
“He’s improved in fitness from that run, so hopefully he can run another cheeky race.”
The Ascot meeting, which features two Listed races, gets underway at 1.23 tomorrow afternoon.
Tim Walker