WA racing’s greatest family dynasty conquered the State’s oldest and most coveted Group 1 when Bustler scored an explosive Railway Stakes (1600m) win at Ascot on Saturday.
Neville Parnham, a WA Racing Hall of Fame trainer, and the eldest of his three jockey sons, Steven, broke through for their first victory in the $1.5 million feature.
Bustler capped a red-letter day for the father-son duo, who combined to win the $500,000 Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) with Zipaway just 35 minutes earlier.
Starting a $9 chance, Bustler stormed home from sixth on the turn to beat the $3.40 favourite Alsephina by a length. Dom To Shoot ($21) charged from near last for an eye-catching third.
Neville Parnham, the son of former trainer the late Harold Jr, took up training in 1983 after a short stint as a jockey and has won a record 14 city trainers’ premierships.
“It’s a big thrill to win this race,” Neville said.
“It’s a time-honoured race and we’ve had a few cracks and come up a little bit short.
“I thought I had the right horse. I thought he was the major beneficiary of dropping from weight-for-age at 59kg to 53kg.
“I was a little bit worried when I saw Willie (Pike, rider of Alsephina) on his back at about the 850, trying to follow him.
Neville praised Steven’s ride, with the now five-time Group 1-winning jockey having Bustler perfectly placed three-wide with cover in the middle stages of the race.
Steven kept Bustler off the fence from barrier two and he was poised to strike on the turn, surging to the lead just before the 100m.
“I don’t give Steve instructions,” Neville said.
Neville Parnham celebrates after his breakthrough win
“I don’t give any of the boys instructions, they ride a lot better than I used to.
“Steve always turns up on the big days.
“The winning move was down the back (straight) when he popped off three-deep to follow Comfort Me, which left him in a position to be able to pounce.”
Steven Parnham has won a record-equalling four Group 1 Kingston Town Classics (now known as the Northerly Stakes), but the Railway was the Ascot Group 1 he coveted most.
He grew up marvelling at the stars of the turf that won the iconic race.
“I’ve said for a few years now that this is the race I want to win before I finish riding,” Steven said.
“Not that I plan on finishing riding soon, but it’s our most historic race and I feel the hardest to win.
Neville Parnham and jockey Steven Parnham with the trophy
“There’s just so many things that need to go right. He had the right weight, the right barrier, ended up with the right run and got the right result.
“In the run I was pretty excited. I gave him a squeeze and he flew and then I thought ‘hold on boy’.”
Steven paid tribute to his jockey brothers Brad and Chris and their mother, Carolyn.
He is a son of top sire Playing God, a dual winner of the Northerly when it was known as the Kingston Town.
Steven could face a big decision whether to ride Bustler or Zipaway in the Northerly on December 9.
Bustler is raced by a syndicate headed by Santo Guagliardo, who has been involved in the transport industry for over 30 years and is one of Neville Parnham’s top stable clients.
“I’m still trying to fathom what’s happened,” Guagliardo said.
Bustler was sold by WA’s Ruby Racing and Breeding for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2021. He has now won more than $1.55 million in prizemoney.
Champion jockey Pike was proud of runner-up Alsephina.
“She actually went really well, just found one better on the day,” Pike said.
“Good effort. Second in a Group 1 is still good.”
Star Victorian jockey Jamie Kah said Tuvalu, the $4.80 second favourite, was disappointing when fading to run 12th.
Sydney jockey Tommy Berry said classy mare Roots ($6) raced flat after finishing 10th.