Trainer Neville Parnham ‘sorts out the men from the boys’ with September Born in WA Guineas

West Australian training maestro Neville Parnham says the Group 2 WA Guineas sorts out the men from the boys – and he’s certain he has a grown man on his hands on Saturday in the form of September Born.

Bustler is going for back-to-back Group 1 Railway Stakes victories. Picture: Western Racepix

West Australian training maestro Neville Parnham says the Group 2 WA Guineas sorts out the men from the boys – and he’s certain he has a grown man on his hands on Saturday in the form of September Born.

Parnham, who has won the race five times and uses it as a launching pad for some of his best horses, believes his colt fits the bill as he looks to unearth another star.

September Born is a $2.30 favourite for the $500,000 feature and Parnham says his versatility sees him perfectly placed on Saturday.

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“I like the race a lot because it sorts the men out from the boys,” Parnham said.

“It is always a good race, it is a stepping stone if you a have a horse that can run a mile or 1800m, you use it to go to the Northerly these days.

“He galloped super on Saturday, it was his final hard, hard workout, it was a pretty searching gallop and he came through it well.”

Born again …

A winner on debut in June and resuming with a neck 2nd in the Listed Belgravia a fortnight ago, September Born has proven to be a worthy favourite by capturing the Listed @Seacorp Fairetha Stakes over 1400m at Ascot.

September Born becomes the 21st stakes winner… pic.twitter.com/uCdBHlE4MM

— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) November 9, 2024

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It comes as Parnham prepares a two-pronged attack in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) with last year’s Guineas winner Zipaway and defending champ Bustler.

The Parnham family is using the same formula this year that landed Bustler the race 12 months ago, with a four-year-old getting in on the minimum weight.

“Zipaway is on the limit, I guess that swayed (son Steven’s) decision to ride him over Bustler,” Parnham said.

“He rode Bustler to win it last year, he was on the minimum that year, history says those horses on the minimum have a good record.

“I still believe Bustler has a winning weight at 56kg.

“His run the other day was super, he is working the place down at the moment and I wouldn’t swap either horse for another one in the race.”

Eastern state raiders Light Infantry Man, Democracy Manifest, Socks Nation and Port Lockroy landed in Perth on Saturday morning, with Parnham warning they would need to be produce their A-games to knock off the locals.

“The locals hold their own in this race – if they bring the right horses over, they will be hard to beat but my two are right on target,” he said.

“Some of those east coast horses have been through preps and reached their grand finals, it’s not an easy task to come over here and win within a week of coming over.”

Originally published as Trainer Neville Parnham ‘sorts out the men from the boys’ with September Born in WA Guineas