Neville Parnham has copped a double blow with stable stars Bustler and September Born ruled out for the remainder of the winter carnival.
Bustler got to see race day action at Pinjarra twice, but for September Born, his woes continue after last year’s Ascot carnival was cut short.
The son of Playing God announced his arrival as one of the better three-year-old’s last year when he won the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m).
September Born’s maiden stakes victory came two weeks after a cracking second behind West Star first-up in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m).
While disappointed September Born’s return has been put on hold, Parnham said he’s not quite right and no risks will be taken on such a promising horse.
“He’s going to the paddock, he’s got some bruising on his bone,” Parnham said to Racing WA.
“It needs time to settle; we’ll put him out for a nice little break and hopefully get him back for the carnival at Xmas time.
“It wasn’t worth pursuing, we would be band aiding him up and he’s got too much talent for that.
“There was just something there that I wasn’t completely happy with.
“We can’t be worried about it; it is what it is, and we move on.
“Hopefully we can get him back on track and if we do, I’m sure we’ll have some fun then.”
September Born has raced four times for two wins and a second.
Parnham was setting him up to follow the deeds of his full sister, Kay Cee who won three-year-old winter features: the Raconteur Stakes (1400m) and Belmont Guineas (1600m) five years ago.
Bustler is also causing a few headaches for Parnham, spelling after not firing a shot and being underwhelming at best in two runs back this preparation.
Following a sharp trial win and positive reports about his work at home, Bustler ran below his best when unplaced in the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra.
Parnham can’t pinpoint or expose any real reasons for the twin failures, but it’s almost certain he won’t be seen racing at Pinjarra in the future.
“He hit his front joint, right on the back of the sesamoid,” Parnham said.
“He’s done it twice in his life and both have been at Pinjarra.
“He doesn’t do it in track work, has never done it in a race before.
“It’s not a soundness issue, he’s as sound as a bell.
“I am guessing, but he doesn’t seem to like Pinjarra too much.
“He’ll go to the paddock for a little break and then bring him back for the carnival here.”
September Born is out of Saturday’s Raconteur Stakes but Parnham will likely have representation with God’s Gate.
A Playing God colt, Parnham said he deserved a crack at a feature event after a strong last-start second over 1300m at Pinjarra a fortnight back.
He led, was headed, but never shirked the issue late when ¾ of a length astern of Sunbronzed.
“He raced the other day and appeared that might have been a fraction short for him because he kept coming to the line,” Parnham said.
“He’s still learning a fair bit, but we’ve seen good talent from him.
“More importantly what I saw from him last start he toughed it right out all the way down the straight.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him finish a race off.
“You would have to be over the moon on the improvement he showed and the toughness he showed.”
Julio Santarelli