Neville Parnham is eager to see the return of talented three-year-old September Born, believing the colt can continue to build his impressive record in the coming months.
The Playing God colt, a full sibling to Group 1 star Kay Cee, has already shown significant promise in just four starts, and Parnham is confident he’ll rise to a new level this preparation.
September Born delivered an impressive debut victory at Belmont last June and nearly won again fresh up when storming home for second in the Belgravia Stakes (1200m).
He followed that up with a strong win in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) before finishing unplaced in the WA Guineas (1600m) to conclude his carnival.
Parnham has outlined a winter campaign for the colt, aiming first at a modest return before targeting major Belmont features.
“He’s been in work for over five weeks now and going along really well,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“He’s nice and relaxed, not as colty as he was previous times around.
“He’s learnt to be in the stable environment and be a happy horse.
“He’s very sound and stepped up to doing solid even time work.
“He’s getting close to returning to the trials, probably another three weeks or so.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and his targets will be something like the Belmont Guineas (1600m) and Raconteur prior to that.
“He might kick off in a lower class three-year-old event, but he’s shaping up pretty well.”
The Raconteur Stakes (1400m) and Belmont Guineas (1600m) are scheduled for June 14 and 28 at Belmont.
Parnham also provided positive updates on stablemates Bustler and Zipaway, both set for shorter winter runs.
“Bustler’s going along really well,” Parnham said.
“He’ll head to the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and Hyperion (1600m).
“Whether we take him to the next race (Strickland Stakes) over 2000m is unlikely.
“He’s going super and it will be a brief campaign before setting him up for another crack at the Railway Stakes.
“Zipaway is coming along nicely but his quite gross this time around.
“He’s a fraction behind but will head to those same races.”
Bustler claimed the 2023 Group 1 Railway Stakes over Alsephina and Dom To Shoot, while Zipaway triumphed in the WA Guineas and later finished third in the Alister Clarke Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The Group 3 Belmont Sprint runs May 24, with the Hyperion Stakes following two weeks later.