The Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) has been a successful race for trainer Neville Parnham and he’s confident that trend can continue with a two-pronged attack at Belmont on Saturday.
Neville Parnham saddles up Ghost Who Walks and Multinational and is one win away from squaring the ledger with Vern Brockman as the most prolific trainer of the Beaufine Stakes.
Ghost Who Walks is aiming to go back to back after defeating favourite Real Danger last year and can give Parnham a fourth Beaufine after Bovader (1990) and Irish Pride (2003).
The six-year-old, who has not raced since the Rock Magic in March, tuned up for his Beaufine defence when shading Nerodio in a 1000m Belmont trial in June.
Parnham said Ghost Who Walks is primed for his Beaufine return.
“He’s going along really well,” Parnham told The Races WA.
“His trial was excellent and he’s improved off that.
“He needed that hit out and galloped super on Tuesday.
“I’m looking forward to a good first up performance from him.
“I’m pretty happy with him.”
From 47 starts Ghost Who Walks has won 11 races, nine of which have been over 1000m.
The God Has Spoken gelding has also been successful on soft and heavy track conditions.
In a field of 11 Beaufine starters he’s drawn the widest gate.
Keshaw Dhurun, who won his first stakes race on Ghost Who Walks in last year’s Beaufine, has the mount.
Ghost Who Walks has been easy with Tabtouch punters, from $5 he’s out to $7.
Stablemate Multinational has met support and after as much as $21 was available he’s into $11.
Man Crush the $4.20 favourite, displacing dual Beaufine winner Nerodio ($4.40) at the top of the market.
Multinational ran fifth to Triple Jay last start and with Steven Parnham aboard he jumps from barrier six.
Parnham says he’s covering new ground with Multinational.
“I don’t know if he’s ever run over 1000m,” Parnham said.
“We’ll probably sit him off the speed and he’ll have a good kick at the end of it.
“Some of these are first up and he has fitness under his belt.
“He carries 54kg which he will appreciate.”