It was as good as it gets for trainer Neville Parnham this time a year ago when he was sitting on top of the WA racing world after claiming two sought after feature races.
Cometh the big races, cometh the big stables and Neville Parnham’s team didn’t disappoint, on a golden day of racing they carved out a prestigious feature race double.
Bustler handled the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) with aplomb, soon after stable mate Zipaway took out honours with a hard-fought victory in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
The coveted results were not so surprising when you consider that Parnham’s been the standard-bearer for excellence in WA training ranks for multiple years.
Hall Of Fame induction, four wins at the elite level and more than 2000 winners since 1983, Parnham is widely acknowledged as one of the state’s leading horsemen.
12-months from that memorable double, Parnham holds out strong hope that he can repeat history on Saturday and if the betting market is a guide he’s in with top claims.
Bustler and Zipaway clash in the Railway against a host of interstate raiders while September Born will go into the WA Guineas (1600m) at the top of his game.
The son of Playing God, a sire that gave Parnham so much success in the past, has been touted as a top liner since scoring an impressive win on debut last June.
Opinions haven’t changed after he ran second in the Belgravia Stakes (1200m) first up, charging late from a wide draw before claiming the Fairetha Stakes (1400m).
Parnham said September Born, to be ridden by his son, Brad Parnham, will head to the WA Guineas in the best possible shape and with the perfect preparation.
“He had a solid gallop on Saturday,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“He’s in as good a place as he can possibly be.
“He’s nice and sound and fit.
“He’s at his peak now and hopefully we can pull it off from a good gate.”
September Born is the $2.35 betting sites favourite. He’s drawn perfectly in barrier four.
Storyville, on the quick back up after last week’s brilliant last-to-first victory in the Champion Fillies Stakes, is on the second line of betting at $5.
Parnham has won the WA Guineas five times after Zipaway (2023), War Saint (2019), Rommel (2014), Playing God (2010) and Royal Retrieve (2001).
In the Railway, Parnham says he has a slight leaning to Zipaway, but only marginally.
Bustler improved second up after he ran second to Casino Seventeen in the Lee Steere, while Zipaway finished fourth after an interrupted run.
Zipaway is on the 53kg minimum for Steve Parnham, who made the tough call to jump off Bustler after they won the Railway last year.
Bustler will have Jarrad Noske for company and allocated 56kg, he carries 3kg more than his stable mate.
Parnham said going on history the weight advantage is a major asset for Zipaway.
“The minimum is generally speaking, those horses are hard to beat,” Parnham said.
“But he’s not just on the minimum, he won the Guineas last year and is a pretty smart horse.
“He raced well in Melbourne and will be right in the mix.”
Before Tuesday’s barrier draw Zipaway is $6 with betting companies. Edging him out of market lead is interstate visitor Light Infantry Man ($5.50.)
Bustler is $16.
“I reckon Bustler is going pretty good,” Parnham said.
“I still think 56kg is a winnable weight.
“Gee, he’s going good that horse.
“I think he’ll make his presence felt.
“There won’t be much between them, but the younger horse (Zipaway) with that minimum weight might just have the edge.”
