Ellicazoom to get redemption in W.A. Guineas

Favourite Ellicazoom is seeking redemption in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing-W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday following her unlucky second last weekend.

Hugh  Bowman, above, rides Humanity in the W.A. Guineas at Ascot.  Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Hugh Bowman, above, rides Humanity in the W.A. Guineas at Ascot. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

The Neville Parnham trained Ellicazoom was on the end of some severe interference at the 1400m where she lost several lengths before running on in the straight to finish second to Samovare in the Group 3 $200,000 W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.

Jockey Paul Harvey on third placegetter I Am Boudica pleaded guilty to careless riding for causing the interference and stewards handed down a twenty-six day suspension which started last Sunday which virtually puts Harvey out for most of the 2016 Ascot Racing Carnival.

Steven Parnham has been on Ellicazoom for all her five race starts, including her two wins, her latest two starts back in the Listed $100,000 Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 1, and gets the ride again in the W.A. Guineas.

Ellicazoom has drawn barrier six in the sixteen horse W.A. Guineas field and has also been installed as the $5 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Hugh Bowman’s mount Humanity from barrier three and the Simon Miller trained Whispering Brook from barrier ten share the second line of betting at $6.

Miller has freshened up Whispering Brook following the filly’s return from Melbourne where she performed well from four starts without winning.

Perth jockey Peter Knuckey was Whispering Brook’s regular rider before she headed to Melbourne and finds himself back on board in the W.A. Guineas, replacing Chris Parnham who rode her when thirteenth to I Am A Star in the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 29.

Miller is happy that the form around I Am A Star is standing up after that filly finished second to Global Glamour with Whispering Brook third in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.

“I was disappointed at the start (after her Flemington run),” Miller told RSN’s Racing Ahead.

“You go back to the Guineas – I Am A Star and our horse hit the line together.

“We’ve had an unorthodox prep going into the Myer, it probably told late, we led them up and stopped, so a forgive run.

“It was nice to see I Am A Star win, and frank the form that we’re right up there when things go our way.”

On the next line of betting at $7 is the Daniel Morton trained Saul’s Special who has drawn horribly at fifteen with Brad Parnham in the saddle while William’s Pike’s mount Get Over It has drawn in close at two and is listed as a $9 chance.

Market order for the W.A. Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Ellicazoom, $6 Humanity, Whipsering Brook, $7 Saul’s Special, $9 Get Over It, $10 Lusaha, $11 Variation, $13 I am Boudica, $21 Geiger Gem, $31 One Short, Ragazzo D’Oro, $41 Final Salute, Minus Looks, The Celt, $61 Jazari, $81 Wrinkly.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.