Neville Parnham hasn't been able to put his finger on the reason for Ellicazoom's Moonee Valley flop in March but insists the West Australian invader will be back with a bang in Melbourne this spring.
Parnham campaigned Ellicazoom in Melbourne during the autumn carnival and she finished narrow seconds behind Savanna Amour and I Am A Star in consecutive Group II races.
She was then sent for a spell after being tailed off last, beaten more than 21 lengths in the Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Ellicazoom resumes in Saturday's Ladbrokes Odds Stakes (1200m) where she is an $18 chance on Sportsbet.
Trainer Parnham is convinced she is at least a top five chance on Saturday and says she will be more lethal over a longer distance during the Melbourne spring, with the Group I Myer Classic (1600m) a potential target.
"We had her bone scanned after the Moonee Valley run and there was nothing serious we could find apart from a couple of hot spots," Parnham said.
"There was certainly no evidence we could hang our hat on in terms of her failing that day.
"We have given her a long spell and she was sent back to her owner's property in South Australia for a good break.
"She has returned really well and has had a couple of nice recent gallops, including an impressive jumpout behind Faatinah last Friday.
"She will follow the mares' path in Melbourne and if she is going well enough we would certainly be looking at the Myer Classic.
"I think the form around her has been strong considering I Am A Star only narrowly beat her and she also only just went down to Savanna Amour."
Vets on the night of Ellicazoom's Moonee Valley flop could find nothing wrong either although the stewards' report hinted she may not have handled the Moonee Valley track.
Ellicazoom will be ridden by Parnham's son at Caulfield on Saturday and their task has not been made any easier starting from barrier 13.
The West Australian mare has often been ridden close to the speed however Neville Parnham indicated riding tactics had not yet been finalised.
"We will decide how to ride her on the day, it will probably be dictated by how the track is racing," Parnham said.
"She has gone well before when ridden on the speed and if you have to be ridden on speed on the day then that is the way we will ride her.
"But she is pretty versatile and she at times has been ridden back in the field in Perth and produced some big finishes."
