Parnham selects Rommel for Kingston Town
Jockey Steven Parnham is pinning his hopes of a record-equalling fourth Group 1 Kingston Town Classic victory on WA Guineas winner Rommel.
Parnham has made the tough decision to ride Rommel over last year's Kingston Town Classic (1800m) winner Ihtsahymn in the $500,000 feature tomorrow week.
The 29-year-old is one win shy of equalling Paul Harvey's record of riding four Kingston Town winners.
Two of Parnham's three previous wins in the Kingston Town influenced his decision to ride Rommel.
Three-year-olds have an outstanding record with a significant advantage over older rivals at weight-for-age.
Parnham used the weight advantage to win on Playing God in 2010 and Ihtsahymn last year, with both gallopers claiming the Guineas-Kingston Town double.
Playing God also won the race in 2011 for Parnham as a four-year-old.
"I spoke to Fred (Kersley, Ihtsahymn's trainer) and I just felt that three-year-olds have a big advantage in the race," Parnham said.
"I've won the race on two three-year-olds and rode God Has Spoken when he ran second as a three-year-old (in 2009).
"They come into the race with the weight pull. I just wanted to follow that formula."
Rommel, trained by Parnham's father Neville, caused a boilover when he beat boom gelding Disposition by half a length in last Saturday's WA Guineas (1600m).
The TAB slashed Rommel's Kingston Town quote to $12.
Parnham said the Commands colt was hitting peak form after struggling earlier in his current campaign.
"He's peaking at the right time," Parnham said.
"Ihtsahymn will improve stepping up to 1800, but the way Rommel ran out the 1600, the 1800 won't pose too many problems.
Parnham rode Ihtsahymn in last Saturday's Railway Stakes when he ran 10th, beaten 3½ lengths, to Elite Belle. Kersley hasn't confirmed a replacement rider.
"He's raced below-par at unsuitable distances," Kersley said. "I think he really needs to regain his best form."
Moriarty, who ran an eye-catching third in the Railway, has been heavily backed in Kingston Town betting this week.
TAB fixed odds betting manager Ben Pomatti said Moriarty had firmed from $6.50 to $5.50, snatching favouritism from Elite Belle ($6).
·Trainer Dan Morton dominated yesterday's Ascot meeting with four consecutive winners - Orright, Woolibar, Oradol and Fast Flowing.
