Top Perth horseman Neville Parnham is keen to back his WA Guineas winner Rommel up in Saturday week’s 2014 Kingston Town Classic where the three-year-old will be out to prove he’s as good as the stable’s former champion Playing God.
Romell is out to repeat the feats of dual Kingston Town Classic winner Playing God (pictured) this summer. Photo: Taron Clarke.
Three years ago Parnham’s son of Blackfriars Playing God rose from obscurity to win the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) and then then the $500,000 Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) two starts later.
He also won the 2011 Kingston Town Classic with thirds in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) in between during a Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival raid.
Now Hall Of Fame inductee Parnham is looking to repeat that feat with classy Commands colt Rommel who goes into this year’s Kingston Town Classic on December 6 via the exact lead-up as Playing God.
Both horses won the WA Guineas on the back of a second in the Fairetha Stakes, Rommel having done son this Perth Summer Racing Carnival when turning the tables on the previously undefeated Disposition in last Saturday’s mile showdown.
“He has always shown above average ability,” Parnham said of Rommel after Saturday’s win.
“He won his first race start twelve months ago on this day, and I made the comment on that day ‘this is my Guineas horse’.
“I’ve never lost faith in the horse, we actually thought about taking him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas.”
The media and Parnham have both been quick to make the obviously comparisons between Playing God and the new up-and-comer, but the horse’s Ascot-based trainer knows Rommel still has to make the cut in Group 1 company.
“I think this horse will get out over a bit more ground, he’s not far off him (Playing God), he’s still got a bit to prove though,” Parnham said.
There’s also consideration for a Melbourne raid with Rommel next year for a shot at the 2015 Australian Guineas in March where he’ll be looking to go two better than Playing God.
Rommel is currently paying $13 through Ladbrokes.com.au in their pre-field Kingston Town Classic odds that are led by Grant Williams’ Railway Stakes winning mare Elite Belle ($6).
After the Eastern State raiders missed out on the bikkies last weekend in WA, the Chris Waller-trained Moriarty is the best backed of the interstate visitors in the Kingston Town Classic occupying the second line of betting at $6 after his third in the Railway Stakes.
Check out the full 2014 Kingston Town Classic betting odds and options online now at Ladbrokes.com.au and back your early selections at the hottest odds with the bookie that does it better!
