Neville Parnham is counting down the days to Zipaway’s return to racing in Saturday’s Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont, viewing the race as an important stepping stone toward a targeted Ascot carnival campaign later this year.
The five-year-old by Playing God hasn’t raced since the Gold Rush (1400m) last December, with this year's winter weight-for-age plans shelved due to minor setbacks, but Parnam says the gelding is ready to launch into his new campaign with renewed purpose.
“He was supposed to have a winter campaign, but he went really foot sore for whatever reason,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“I battled with that for a couple of weeks but decided to give up and put him out again.
“He got over that and I thought I would head into this race, he trialed well, and I was happy with his effort.
“He had a pretty solid gallop at Belmont on Saturday on the grass.
“He’s really going good and hopefully he will run a good race on Saturday and then put him out for a couple of weeks and come back for probably the Northerly (1800m) and into a string of races including the Railway.
“I just want to give him a little freshen up because he’s been in work for a while.”
Zipaway underlined his class as a three-year-old with a brilliant win in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m), followed by a gutsy third in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes behind Dom To Shoot and Zaaki.
Parnham then took Zipaway east for a Melbourne campaign where he ran competitive thirds in two Group 2 races: The Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Despite not breaking through for a win in Melbourne Zipaway lost no admirers, least of all Parnham, the experience added depth to his resume and confirmed his ability to mix it with elite company.
However, Zipaway’s Ascot carnival plans didn’t go to plan last year, going winless in four starts, but Parnham believes the gelding wasn’t at his best during that period and is confident he can bounce back.
“I don’t think we saw the best of him last summer,” Parnham said.
“He was fine leading up to his first up run but after that I thought I had lost him somewhere.
“He had a tough run in the Railway and ran fair in the Northerly.
“I think he’s got more ability than what he did in the Gold Rush.
“I think when things didn’t work first up, he was on the back foot a little bit and it didn’t play his way.
“Hoping for a bit more fortune come this summer and if he does go alright, we can take him back to Victoria in the autumn.”
Despite drawing barrier nine in a field of 10, Parnham believes Zipaway can reignite his carnival ambitions in the Idyllic Prince Stakes.
“The way he’s working he’ll run a very good race,” Parnham said.
“Whether he can beat an in form speedy type like Phanta is something to contend with.
“I’m not going in beaming with confidence because there is the pace horses in there, however, being at Belmont Park gives him more of an opportunity to wind up.
“He races well fresh and should be right with them at the end of the race.
“I’m happy with the amount of work he’s had and where his fitness is.”
Zipaway will be ridden by Steven Parnham, who won the race last year aboard Searchin’ Roc’s.
Tabtouch has Zipaway at $6.50 in the Idyllic Prince Stakes.
Belmont Newmarket winner, Phanta, is the $3.90 market leader. Wind And The Lion next at $4.
Julio Santarelli