Neville Parnham eager to send Railway Stakes winner Bustler to Melbourne for All-Star Mile tilt

A West Australian trainer has set his sights on the All-Star Mile, declaring it the “perfect race” for his Group 1 winner.

Railway Stakes winner Bustler is heading to Melbourne for the All-Star Mile. Picture: Western Racepix

WA Group 1 winner Bustler will be given his chance to “make his mark” in Melbourne as he sets on a path towards the $4m All-Star Mile.

Bustler has returned to trainer Neville Parnham’s stable after a two-week spell following a successful Perth carnival where he won the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).

Parnham said Bustler would ideally have one lead-up run in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m, February 10) before the All-Star Mile on March 16, but the Futurity Stakes (1400m, February 24) was a back-up option.

“I think it’s the perfect race for him to try and make his mark on the east coast,” Parnham said.

“We’ll see how he comes up, he’s off a very short break. He just walked in the stable and looks magnificent.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to get him up and get him ready. Whether he’s ready for the CF Orr or we have to wait for another race, we’ll play it by ear.

“He does go well fresh so I’m not concerned if he has only one run before the All-Star Mile and hopefully he can qualify or get a wildcard.”

Bustler wins the Railway Stakes for the Parnham Stable taking out the first G1 for the 2023 Pinnacles Carnival!🏇 pic.twitter.com/JeIFOlYt2b

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 25, 2023

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Bustler ran close fourths in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) and $1.5m Gold Rush (1400m) in December after his Railway success.

Parnham said the four-year-old had come back into training in great condition despite a busy campaign before his short break.

“He pulled up really good from his runs. His last start in the Gold Rush was exceptionally good, he drew terrible and got back to last on the corner,” he said.

“He was in peak form and the run didn’t hurt him. He was in great order even though he backed up from the Northerly Stakes, coming back (from the 1800m) to the 1400m.

“That’s probably his sweet seat, about 1400m to 1600m, he probably just doesn’t get the 1800m in a weight-for-age, handicap conditions might be different.

“I’m pretty happy with the way the horse has done and how he’s come back from a spell, a very short spell, but he looks terrific.”

Bustler is $26 with TAB in early All-Star Mile betting.

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Perth mares Amelia’s Jewel and Alsephina, runner-up in the Railway Stakes, are also prominent in All-Star Mile markets but both have been ruled out.

Amelia’s Jewel will target The Quokka back home, while Alsephina’s co-trainer Grant Williams said a trip to Melbourne wasn’t on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Group 2 WA Guineas winner Zipaway is unlikely to join stablemate Bustler on the flight to Melbourne for an Australian Guineas tilt but Parnham wasn’t ruling it out.

“At the moment he’ll be staying home,” Parnham said.

“He looks magnificent. I’m sort of reluctant to travel him over for a race like that (Australian Guineas) although I haven’t ruled it completely out.

“I’ll give him a week or two and then make some firm decisions. He could stay here and run in the lead-ups to the Derby and head in that direction.

“At the moment that’s his plan, the Australian Guineas might be a bit too soon for him.

“I’m happy to keep him at home but not ruling out that he goes there.”

Originally published as Neville Parnham eager to send Railway Stakes winner Bustler to Melbourne for All-Star Mile tilt