Parnhams switch for Rommel's biggest day
Steven Parnham will replace younger brother Chris on Rommel in this weekend's $500,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
The striking Commands colt warmed up for his second crack at a Group 1 when he found the line strongly to claim the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Rommel, who ran a game 2¾-length seventh behind Moriarty in last year's Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot at his only outing at Group 1 level, arrived in Melbourne only days before the Zeditave.
Trainer Neville Parnham was delighted yesterday to see how well the three-year-old had negotiated his Melbourne debut.
"It wasn't on our itinerary to go into the Zeditave, but we're pretty pleased with the result," Parnham said.
"He came through the run unscathed and it was only his second run.
"I took him for a swim this morning and he was really well in himself."
Parnham confirmed that his oldest son Steven would make the trip east this week to ride Rommel, who he guided to victory in the $400,000 Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on Super Saturday.
Steven remained in Perth on Saturday for a book of seven rides at Ascot.
Rommel's win franked WA's three-year-old form after Reset gelding Disposition finished a narrow second to Wandjina in last Saturday week's CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Disposition ran second to Rommel in the WA Guineas and is the $6 second favourite for the Flemington feature behind the Chris Waller-trained Kermadec ($4).
Meanwhile, breeder-owner Bob Peters has spelled Perth Cup winner Real Love after her eighth behind Mourinho in Saturday's Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Real Love's effort followed her 11th, beaten six lengths by Dissident, in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) a fortnight earlier.
She was sent to Melbourne with a view to running in the $1 million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14.
"She did not have much of a break between campaigns," Peters said.
"It wasn't on our itinerary to go into the Zeditave, but we're pretty pleased with the result." " Rommel's trainer *Neville Parnham *
