Win of Vital Importance for Parnham stable

Perth trainer Neville Parnham has made an impact with a small team of horses in Melbourne which could be ready to grow.

One of Western Australia’s leading horsemen, Parnham is considering opening a a small stable in Melbourne if his jockey son Chris decides to return there from Perth.

“I thought about it a bit when Chris was over there riding,” Parnham said.

“He came back (to Perth) for the carnival and his foot was annoying him but he’s had the plate removed recently and he’s giving consideration to returning over there in the coming weeks.

“If he does, that might change my thinking and I might set up a little stable over there.”

Parnham campaigned Ellicazoom to Group placings in Melbourne during the autumn and has since had wins with Malibu Style and Vital Importance.

A last-start winner at Caulfield, Vital Importance continues her campaign in the Dominant Clean Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Vital Importance came to Melbourne after the 2016 Perth summer carnival and figured in the placings in two of her four runs.

She returned to racing in the spring for Henry Dwyer and won first-up at Sale before five more runs for that trainer.

Parnham said he put Vital Importance back into work once Ellicazoom had finished her preparation.

“She came off a pretty short preparation for that race first-up so I thought she did particularly well,” Parnham said.

“I’m expecting her to run up to her best form but second-up at 1200 metres may be a little bit short for her, but the three weeks between runs is probably to her benefit.

“She’s in a good place at the moment and hopefully can hold her form.”

Parnham has the $120,000 Leilani Series Final (1400m) at Flemington on July 8 picked out as the mare’s goal this campaign and said her performance on Saturday would determine her path to that race.

He said little notice should be taken of her only previous run at Moonee Valley where she was caught wide from the draw and rolled forward.

Vital Importance sits on the sixth line of betting for Saturday’s race at $9 with Grey Street, who she defeated at Caulfield, the $3.60 favourite ahead of Whistle Baby at $4.40.