Trainer Neville Parnham says Strideaway has improved since her perfect return and is spot on to end his Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) hoodoo at Pinjarra on Saturday.
A daughter of Alabama Express, Strideaway created a big impression first up and stamped her Magic Millions credentials with authority, gunning down Do I Feel Lucky with strength.
Having her fifth start in the Magic Millions juvenile contest, Strideaway has drawn barrier nine and will be ridden by Laqdar Ramoly, who has been with the filly from the get-go and aboard her two career wins.
Strideaway is the $3.80 favourite, ahead of Do I Feel Lucky $4.75, Da Generals Son $6 and Storm Away $9.
Rating his filly highly, Neville Parnham believes she’s primed to hand him his first success in the Magic Millions WA juvenile feature.
“I can only say that she’s come on from that performance,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“She wasn’t screwed down for that run, she’d already qualified for the race.
“I didn’t have her screwed down for her first up run and I’m expecting more improvement.”
Adding to Parnham’s confidence is Strideaway’s barrier draw. With Laqdar Ramoly, who has been with her from the get-go, she jumps from barrier nine.
Parnham is satisfied with her gate position.
“It’s looking comfortable,” Parnham said.
“I didn’t really want to draw too close in.
“I think she’s a horse that likes a bit of room and likes sitting a fraction off the pace, rather right there in the block hole.
“If the emergencies don’t gain runs, she probably comes in four barriers and that is a comfortable sort of place for her.”
Parnham’s gone close to taking out the race before after Rommel and Light Up The Sky finished second in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Meanwhile, Parnham says he wasn’t at all surprised by Snowdome’s win in Saturday’s Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m).
Supporting the theory that form is temporary and class permanent, Snowdome, a dual Group 3 winner, ended a 462-day losing spell.
“He’s always been a talented horse,” Parnham said.
“He was absolutely flying leading into carnival, but the race I had picked out, the Prince Of Wales Stakes, he we had a bit of a stable incident and had to scratch him.
“We then set him up to run in the Summer Scorcher and he got a bad virus which knocked him around a bit.
“I wasn’t sure if we were able to continue on with him and I was a little bit skeptical whether or not we would be able to get him back to the races or winning a race.
“There’s a possibility he could go to the Pinjarra Classic or freshen him up and maybe take him to the Bluff Knoll.”
Stable mate Bruce Almighty gave Parnham a treble and closed out a massive day for the veteran trainer after Zouboltz and Snowdome won earlier.
Parnham took home the training honours while his sons dominated the jockey ranks, riding half the card with six winners.
Brad Parnham fired home a treble, launching with first starter, two-year-old filly, Monte Tremezzo before Red Tori and Snowdome.
Steven Parnham got Ice Pick Nick and Rock ‘N’ The Jam across the line; Chris Parnham came home on stable favourite, Bruce Almighty.
The Pinjarra Classic (1300m) is run on February 23 and Albany’s Bluff Knoll (1099m) on March 16.
