Trainer Neville Parnham is confident Vampi At Play has what it takes to win tomorrow’s TABtouch-Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.
The Playing God filly was beaten more than three lengths by Admiration Express in the WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) last start but gets a chance to bounce back in tomorrow’s Listed feature.
Vampi At Play takes on the third and fourth placegetters from last week’s Group 2 SKY Racing-WA Guineas (1600m) Saintorio and All The King’s Men respectively.
Despite the presence of the two talented gelding’s, Neville Parnham said Vampi At Play had what it took to match them.
“I’m really happy with the filly,” Parnham told TABradio.
“I’m hoping we can get a surface like we saw last week and we can get the best out of her.
“Those couple of horses had a couple of hard runs last week.
“I’m banking on them not quite being at the top of their game.”
Parnham said Vampi At Play “didn’t come out of the run all that great” and felt the run on the firm track in the Champion Fillies Stakes.
The filly drops to 53kg for the $125,000 event with Steven Parnham aboard.
Saintorio heads up the TABtouch market for the Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic at $2.75, ahead of All The King’s Men ($4), Vampi At Play ($5) and Man Crush ($9).
Parnham had to scratch his other runner Diamond Command out of the three-year-old feature due to a virus.
Meanwhile, Parnham said Indian Pacific was ready to put in a bold performance in the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), despite a wide barrier draw.
“The barrier hasn’t helped but I’m sure he will be whizzing across and taking a prominent role,” he said.
“This horse is just peaking so I expect him to run a huge race.
“He’s going as good work wise as he can go and when he ran second in the Newmarket, I think he’s close to that sort of form.”
Tomorrow afternoon’s Ascot card gets underway at 12.05.
