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Hall of Famer Neville Parnham has always been a top buyer at WA’s leading sales, the Perth Yearling Sale. Once again he’s topped the list of buyers. His most expensive purchase was an Australian bred Rommel colt for A$180,000.
The Parnham Family have been involved with horse racing for more than 50 years and in recently years with Neville at the helm, Parnham racing has won 13 Western Australian training premierships. Neville Parnham's first major winner was Higinsville in 1991 and first Group I winner was Playing God in the 2010 Kingston Town Classic.
Here, in an exclusive interview with The Impact, leading domestic buyer Neville Parnham discusses his purchases and his buying plans for the rest of the year:
Q: You were one of the top buyers at this sale. Please tell us about the horses you've bought and your plans for them?
A: I bought 18 yearlings on behalf of clients and selected for various reasons for different clients. Some were looking for fillies with a pedigree to later send to stud and others looking for just the racehorse. I sent the strongest more mature yearlings to my breaker Kane Land. They will come back to Parnham racing for their training.
Q: You were the leading purchaser on Day Two with the Playing God colt you purchased during the Book Two component of the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. Could you please tell us more about this purchase?
A: They’re (Playing God progeny) really beautiful types. The one I really loved was the Reillyanne – he was a great type and really replicated Playing God himself. I was underbidder on the brother to Platoon and while there wasn’t a lot between them, I did actually think this one was the pick of his progeny.
Q: You were one of the top buyers at this sale. Please tell us about the horses you've bought and your plans for them?
A: I bought 18 yearlings on behalf of clients and selected for various reasons for different clients. Some were looking for fillies with a pedigree to later send to stud and others looking for just the racehorse. I sent the strongest more mature yearlings to my breaker Kane Land. They will come back to Parnham racing for their training.
Q: What are your plans for the other sales this year? How many horses have you bought thus far and how many are you planning to buy over the remaining season?
A: I generally go to all the sales but the covid-19 has changed all those plans. I have had agents look at some yearlings and then vets and I have then been bidding online. I have only bought a few compared to several which I usually buy. I will look at further sales but I am really happy with what I have.
Q: For the Perth sale, have you done a lot of farm visits? Or do you inspect the horses at the sale venue? What's your preferred method and how has that changed due to the pandemic?
A: I was fortunate to have visited quite a few farms prior to our recent lockdown so had 2/3 of the catalogue done prior to them housing at the sale premises. I like looking at the farms and then again at the sale just to see the improvement in them and were they may finish up.
Q: How long have you been coming to this sale and who would be your top graduates from this sale?
A: I have been buying yearlings from the Perth sale for the past 40 years and have had success with group one performers Playing God, God Has Spoken and Platoon to stakes winner Blonde Jev, Electic, Excelorada, Dominating, Checkpoint, Bovader and Secret Remedy to prolific winning horses like Beyond Dispute, Secret Enigma, Lenience and Vital Importance.
Q: Please name your horse-of-a-lifetime and why?
A: Playing God as he was my first Group One winner and now the most promising sire in Western Australia
Q: Who or what has inspired you the most during this pandemic period?
A: I have been inspired by the racing industry in Australia on how they have conducted themselves and run a successful industry when other industries haven’t been able to do so.