Hall Of Fame trainer Neville Parnham is unsure if Kay Cee can overcome hot favourite Western Empire in the Group 1 Heineken 3 Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, but he is confident the Playing God mare enters the $1 million race in top shape.
Parnham is under no illusion about the task facing Kay Cee, but remains hopeful rather than confident with Western Empire all the rage with punters after his demolition job in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m).
“His Asian Beau Stakes victory was awesome and he is going to be very hard to beat,” Neville Parnham told The Races WA.
“Even all his trials leading up to the Asian Beau Stakes were very good and everyway you look at it he’s the one to get over.
“The rest of the field will be hoping they get good luck in running and he gets the bad luck.”
Parnham will draw on Kay Cee’s recent build up as inspiration.
He says she will be at her top in a bid to claim a second Group 1 victory after she won the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) two years ago.
The five-year-old has been dogged by a raft of niggling issues since flashing home to defeat Red Can Man in last November’s Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
“She hasn’t put a foot wrong this preparation,” Parnham said.
“There’s been no setbacks like there was last year.
“Nothing had gone right for her after the Lee Steere.
“There were underlying issues, nothing special, but she’s going as good as she was when she was a three-year-old.”
Parnham says he’s been happy with Kay Cee’s two runs in the lead up to the Railway Stakes.
She ran ninth in a slowly run Northerly Stakes (1400m) on her return and was winding up strongly when seventh to Massimo in the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
Ridden by Steven Parnham, Kay Cee went back from wide draws in her two runs, but she has an opportunity of being closer to the front after drawing barrier six.
“Both races being drawn out we had to be a bit too negative with her.” Parnham said.
“She switches off and then she has to get up and going again.
“She can afford to be in a competitive position in the Railway from the barrier.
“At worst she will be midfield and hopefully get on the back of someone.”
Kay Cee will be ridden Steven Parnham. She is currently a $31 chance.
Stable mate Platoon is at $51. Parnham says barrier 14 will impact his prospects.
Meanwhile earlier in the Tabtouch-Placid Ark Stakes (1200m), Flying Missile holds market lead.
The Cable Bay filly is knocking on the door after two thirds behind boom fillies Buzzoom and Searchin’ Roc’s in the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and Belgravia Stakes (1200m) respectively.
“She is going terrific and certainly has not gone backwards,” Parnham said.
Flying Missile is the $3.10 favourite. To jump from barrier six she will be ridden by Chris Parnham.
