Trainer Neville Parnham is weighing up whether his highly-regarded gelding Zipaway will join stable mate Bustler in a Melbourne autumn campaign after he returned to trials on Monday.
Zipaway emerged as Parnham’s best three-year-old at last year’s Ascot Pinnacles carnival after scoring a pulsating win over A Lot Of Good Men in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
Parnham has a big opinion of Zipaway, a classy winner of three races, who emulated his sire Playing God by winning the WA Guineas for Parnham and his jockey-son, Steven.
Parnham’s judgement of Zipaway was given another boost when he ran a close third at the elite level behind Dom To Shoot and Zaaki in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m).
Zipway, who has not raced since the Northerly in December, wasn't pushed out or asked to do a lot when finishing fourth in his 950m heat at Lark Hill today.
Parnham is unsure which path he will take with Zipaway in the autumn, but is seriously contemplating taking on Group 1 company in Melbourne.
“Potentially Zipaway will go across to Melbourne with Bustler and in a race like the Australian Guineas (1600m),” Parnham told The Races WA.
“If he does he will probably just have the one run prior, he’s pretty forward and recovered pretty quickly out of the trial.
“He didn’t have any head gear on, we wanted to see him without blinkers because if I take him out further than 1600m, we’ll probably take the blinkers off him.
“At this stage we are weighing it all up and seeing what the opposition is like in Melbourne.
“He either goes that way or stays here for the Challenge, Lex Piper and J.C.Roberts Stakes.
“Depending on how the horse goes will depend if we go further (WA Derby).”
Parnham plans to get Bustler to the $5 million All Star Mile at Caulfield on March 16, but which course to take is yet to be confirmed.
The four-year-old showcased his talent by winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in December, but further options in Perth are limited.
The son of Playing God finished second to Live To Tell in his trial heat after going forward to sit outside of the leader for Steven Parnham.
“The options in my mind are the C.F. Orr and Futurity to start with,” Parnham said.
“The C.F. Orr is Saturday week which might be a bit soon for him.
“More leaning to giving him another trial before taking him.
“He was a bit out of his comfort zone in his trial by being forward.
“Steve was pretty happy with him through the line and on the line.
“He pulled up really well.”
The Group 1 C.F Orr Stakes (1400m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) are run at Caulfield on February 10 and 24 respectively.
Parnham said Investment Strategy is a chance to run in Sunday’s Breeders’ Classic (1200m) at Bunbury or next month’s Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m)
The Playing God colt is coming off twin successes in last years Listed Fairetha Stakes (1200m) and Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
Investment Strategy ran fifth to Live To Tell in heat seven at Lark Hill today.
Meanwhile, Parnham says Snowdome will remain in Perth, a Melbourne trip has been ruled out.
“He’s not forward enough,” Parnham said.
“Maybe the Roma Cup and the Joey.
“I don’t think I’ll go to the Quokka.
“We’re leaving all options open, but it will be a brief campaign.”
Julio Santarelli