Parcel has been backed from McEwen Stakes odds of $101 into $34, but the speedy filly is no certainty to take her place in the Group 2 event at Moonee Valley tomorrow.
Chris Parnham has been booked to ride Parcel in the 2015 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Parcel has been back in work for three months and she recorded a dominant seven lengths victory in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Cranbourne on August 21, but trainer Wez Hunter said that he is worried about running the Beneteau filly against such a tough field in just her fourth race start.
“She broke the track record at her first start and her campaign got turned upside down when she got scratched behind the gate at Moonee Valley in her second start,” Hunter told Racing Ahead.
“I think she is very good, but I was sort of hoping for a small field like last year and it hasn’t turned out that way.
“She has been back in for a while and she has had two solid trials.
“She is wound up and ready to go, but I think she is very good and I don’t want to bust her gut first-up.
“I will just wait and see.”
Parcel has shown an astonishing amount of early speed during her racing career to date, but Hunter is not sure whether he will be able to stretch the three-year-old past 1000 meters and he admits that he is finding it hard to place the enigmatic filly.
The Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) is an option for Parcel if she does not run in the McEwen Stakes tomorrow, but Hunter is not sure what path the filly will follow this preparation.
“It is really tricky because there are no three-year-old 1000 metres races anywhere,” Hunter said.
“The next option if we don’t run here is to go to an 1100 metre fillies race next weekend at Flemington, but she is so quick around the bend that it is really a shame that there isn’t a race for her.
“It is not straightforward which is a bit frustrating.”
While Parcel could be scratched from the McEwen Stakes, there has already been one casualty from the race after Team Hawkes elected to remove Headwater from the Group 2 event due to his wide barrier draw.
Parcel is now available at 2015 McEwen Stakes odds of $34 with Ladbrokes, while Chautauqua ($2.20) remains a dominant favourite from Furnaces ($6.50), Kuro ($7), Flamberge ($7) and Sistonic ($8.50).
