Promising filly Kay Cee will be out to deliver Hall of Fame trainer Neville Parnham a record fourth success in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot tomorrow afternoon.
Kay Cee produced a terrific performance when she finished second to Boomtastic over 1200m on October 19 in her first start since August 31.
The Playing God filly will start from barrier three in the $100,000 event with Parnham’s son Steven to ride.
Parnham trained Fortune Streak to win the race in 2001, as well as Even Astar (2010) and Ellicazoom (2016) and hinted Kay Cee could be every bit as good as that trio.
“They were all nice horses,” he told TABradio.
“She’s a get back horse, but she has a very solid finish.
“She’s certainly as good as any of them.
“I know Ellicazoom went on to perform in the east coast and did really well over there, but this filly has the potential to get to that sort of level.
“I think she’s a very good horse and she will show that in the next couple of starts.”
Kay Cee occupies the second line of betting with TABtouch at $3.60, while the unbeaten Tuscan Queen ($2.60) heads up the market.
Miss West Coast ($4.60), Platinum Bullet ($6) and Boomtastic ($8.50) are also major chances in the race.
Tuscan Queen, carrying the cerise and white colours of owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters, will also be looking to deliver co-trainer Grant Williams his fourth success in the race.
Parnham said while all the runners had to be respected, Tuscan Queen was still the one to beat.
“I couldn’t have been more impressed with that when it resumed,” he said.
“We know Bob’s horses fire at this time of the year.
“I certainly have respect for Miss West Coast, I know she failed the other day, but she had issues.”
Simon Miller has both Platinum Bullet and Boomtastic engaged.
The Ascot trainer is hoping to win his second straight Burgess Queen Stakes, having won the race with Lady Cosmology last year.
Although the market has Platinum Bullet ahead of Boomtastic, Miller said he felt the outsider could have stronger claims.
“Boomtastic is completely in the zone,” he told TABradio.
“She’s full of beans and coming off two good wins.
“The distance is probably just a little query.
“I think in time she will get it, but she will have to relax a bit and pace herself.
“If she can do that, I think she’s a chance of earning blacktype.
Miller was less optimistic about Platinum Bullet’s chances, but hoped the addition of blinkers would work in her favour.
“We’ll put the shades on and we always knew she was a superior animal with them on,” he said.
“I wanted to wait until the Grand Final (Champion Fillies Stakes), but I have to do it after what she did last start.”
Tuesday’s Ascot meeting gets underway at 11.29am, with the Burgess Queen Stakes to jump at 4.45pm.
Tim Walker
www.rwwa.com.au