Steven Parnham determined to win Belmont Guineas
Jockey Steven Parnham is determined to win the WAROA-Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m) with Demolish and says the gelding is primed for a return to racing after a top barrier trial.
A first-up win in the $125,000 Belmont Guineas will help soothe autumn frustration when he fronted up and competed against Perth’s top three-year-olds without ultimate success.
Demolish ran competitively, but couldn’t land the killer blow when second in the Lex Piper Stakes (1600m), J.C.Roberts Stakes (1800m) and Melvista Stakes (2200m) respectively.
Demolish, trained by Steven Parnham’s father, Neville Parnham, worked home strongly in a 1000m heat on June 6, finishing a close third without being fully extended.
“He trialled up the other day quite nicely with the aim of going to the Belmont Guineas and he seems to be in good order,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“Dad sent me out saying don’t knock him around too much.
“He gave me a really good feel the way that he travelled.
“I couldn’t be any happier with the way he got through it.”
Demolish went without a win last campaign, but Parnham said he couldn’t have asked much more from him.
He believes, after 17 starts, the Rich Enuff gelding can land an overdue feature win.
“He kept performing when he was asked to rise to the occasion and it was a shame he never got a win on the board in any of those stakes races,” Parnham said.
“Every time he was in the firing line he always put up a really good show.
“In my opinion he will put up a good account of himself on Saturday.
“He seems in really good shape and I’m looking forward to the race.
“He’s going into it as good as he can.”
Parnham is keen to extend his family’s Belmont Guineas record after he and his father combined with Kay Cee in 2020.
Younger brother Brad scored on Variation three years before, while his other sibling, Chris, can land his first on current favourite, Rusty Dreams.
Demolish is friendless in betting with Neds, drifting from $8 to $15.
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