Parnham’s Peters Warning

Posted on November 16, 2017 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Trainer Neville Parnham’s faith in Ellicazoom remains firm and despite the classy mare coming off a disappointing eastern states campaign, he is confident she can bounce back to her best at Ascot on Saturday.

Ellicazoom struggled to land a win in four Melbourne starts and returns home to target a Group one double after finishing second last in the Group One Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 4.

Parnham has warned punters not to lose faith in Ellicazoom and is optimistic the daughter of Testa Rossa can once again put her best foot forward when she tackles the $150,000 Group 3 R.J.Peters Stakes (1500m).

“I only intended on giving her four runs over there (Melbourne) so she wouldn’t be too taxed to run here in Perth,” Parnham said on Tabradio.

“It all went pear shaped early in her campaign when she got a rash and that set her back quite a bit.

“I think she is on the upward spiral and I would ignore her run the other day when she wasn’t happy on the inside.

“I took the blinkers off and I’m not sure if that was a mistake, her previous runs had been good with the blinkers on.

“That’s the way I will probably go with her on Saturday, she is more focused with them on.

“She will be more at home at Ascot and has done really well since being here.

“Her track work yesterday (Tuesday) was excellent and I’m looking forward to her running around.”

Ellicazoom is entered for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 25 and the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) two weeks later.

The four-year-old is chasing her second stakes success after winning the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) last November.

Ellicazoom has drawn barrier three in the Peters Stakes.  In a field of nine starters Parnham’s son Steven takes the ride.

The father and son combination are chasing their second Peters’ Stakes after previous success with Elliotto (2009) and God Has Spoken (2010).

Neville Parnham also shared a third Peters’ Stakes with his youngest son, Chris, who guided Bass Strait to victory in 2014.