| Explosive filly Aurum Belle is poised to take her place in the Listed Max Simmonds Classic (1000m) at Ascot on October 10. Trainer Neville Parnham has been thrilled with Aurum Belle since she returned to his stable following a lengthy spell and showed she was on track for the $125,000 feature with a terrific trial at Belmont earlier in the week. The precocious daughter of Snitzel, a $725,000 purchase from last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale, ran second to four-year-old Bassett Hound in the fastest 1000m heat of the morning. "It was a really nice trial," Parnham said. "Brad felt he could have led if he wanted to but there were a couple of horses in there ridden by apprentices and they were rolling. "The plan all along was to go to the Max Simmonds, especially as it is now Listed, and that remains the case. "She's come through the trial well and if she ticks the boxes over the next week or so which I expect she will, we will be there at Ascot on opening day." | Aurum Belle created an impression when winning emphatically on debut over 1000m in February before achieving black-type success in the Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m) and Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m). She rounded out a superb juvenile campaign with a gallant third in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), her chances impacted by a wide barrier draw. "She has a lot of talent, so much talent … it’s frightening, actually," Parnham said. "I didn’t screw her down as a two-year-old to be a fast two-year-old, she was so naturally gifted. What she did was great. "I am expecting her to come back a lot better than what she was because we have only just touched the surface with her." |
