Neville and Steven Parnham land elusive Group 1 Railway Stakes triumph for family with Bustler at Ascot

It was a memorable day for trainer Neville Parnham and son Steven as Bustler gave them their first win in the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

Steven Parnham celebrates as Bustler wins the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot. Picture: Western Racepix

The Perth locals pulled down the pants of the interstate visitors, as the Parnham family celebrated a magic moment they will never forget when claiming the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

A year earlier, Neville Parnham-trained Bustler ran second to hype horse Amelia’s Jewel in the WA Guineas but it was his time to shine at Ascot on Saturday.

Neville Parnham’s eldest son Steven rode the gelding to victory, with WA horses running the first four placings as interstate invaders Roots (10th) and Tuvalu (12th) didn’t fire.

The Parnham name is synonymous with racing in WA, but this was Neville and Steven’s first win in the $1.5 million Railway.

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

“It’s a big thrill to win this race, it’s a time-honoured race,” veteran trainer Neville Parnham said.

“I’ve had a few cracks over the years, but always have come up short.

“This year, I thought I had the right horse.

“I don’t give Steve riding instructions, I don’t give any of the boys instructions, they ride a bit better than what I used to.

“I was rapt when he jumped clean, there was a fair bit of speed coming across.

“The winning move was down the back, when he came up three-deep.”

Four-year-old Bustler was backed from $11 into $9 and held off favourite Alsephina who was also well backed ($3.90 into $3.40).

Steven Parnham gave all credit to his father, who first took out his training license in 1983 after a short career as a jockey.

“Sometimes you just ride on instinct and that’s what dad lets me do,” Steven Parnham said.

“In the run, I was pretty excited.

“When I gave this horse a squeeze he flew, and then I thought ‘hold on boy’.

“Dad is a master, I can’t have any more admiration for how he gets his horses ready.”

Steven Parnham won his first Railway Stakes. Picture: Western Racepix

It capped a memorable 40 minutes for the Parnhams who, a race earlier, conjured an upset in the Group 2 WA Guineas.

Zipaway sat on-speed and was too strong late for the chasing brigade which included hot favourite Super Smink ($1.80) who finished third.

Neville Parnham-trained Zipaway was an alarming drifter in betting ($4.80-$7) despite Parnham telling anyone who would listen pre-race that the gelding was virtually unbeatable.

Parnham indicated he was now almost certain to raise the bar and deploy the promising galloper in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m in a fortnight.

“Behind the scenes, he works like a really good horse,” Parnham said, after jockey son Steven won his fourth WA Guineas.

Unbeaten Grant and Alana Williams-trained Guineas fancy Keshi Boom was scratched from the Guineas on race morning after her trainers reported the filly was feeling a bit flat.

Keshi Boom had been due to race on the back-up, seven days after winning a Group 3 race in impressive style.

Originally published as Neville and Steven Parnham land elusive Group 1 Railway Stakes triumph for family with Bustler at Ascot