Trainer Neville Parnham is bullish in-form pair Flying Missile and Ultimate Command can replicate their one-two finish from a fortnight ago in tomorrow’s Happy 70th Terry Brennan Plate (1100m) at Ascot.
Flying Missile was able to get the better of Ultimate Command a fortnight ago over 1000m, with the pair clearing out by 1 ½ lengths to Astrape.
Parnham said both fillies were in good order after their most recent start and were capable of another strong showing.
“Both fillies are nice two-year-olds,” he told TABradio.
“They both pulled up brilliantly after their last run and I decided we might just give them one more run given the fields have pretty well been the same.
“I was trying to keep them apart but that didn’t work out when they both drew well.”
Ultimate Command will start from barrier four for Brad Parnham, while Chris Parnham will ride Flying Missile from barrier five.
Ultimate Command meets Flying Missile 1kg better at the weights tomorrow but Parnham said he still favoured Flying Missile to get the better of her stablemate.
“I think Flying Missile is in the zone,” he said.
“Laqdar Ramoly rides her nearly every day and after her gallop on Wednesday I said ‘how did she go?’.
“He said ‘I think she’s getting better every start’.
“She’s still got the edge on the other filly.”
Parnham will also have a two-pronged attack on the Amelia Park Handicap (1200m) for the three-year-olds in the form of Captain Burglar and Eliminate.
Parnham said he was surprised Captain Burglar, a $15 chance with TABtouch, was the outsider of the field.
“I thought his run was excellent against the older horses,” he said.
“He only went down by less than half a length.
“I’ve got to be honest I’m really surprised he’s the outsider of that field.”
Parnham said Eliminate would be “finding the line well” off the back of her first-up third on April 28.
Tomorrow’s Ascot meeting gets underway at 12.19pm.
