David Moodie's homebred Snitzel filly Parmie has made giant strides since disappointing at her first few starts, backing up her last start Sandown win with a courageous performance in Saturday's $150,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) at Caulfield.
Tailed off last early, Parmie was set to an all-out drive by Dean Yendall some 600 metres out. Coming the widest around the home turn the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained filly was entitled to feel the pinch but she toughed it impressively to defeat Igniting (Starspangledbanner) by a neck with Noble Fight (Fastnet Rock) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (image Grant Courtney )
Co-trainer Mathew Ellerton said the 2yo filly had done enough for the season and is likely to be spelled with an autumn campaign in mind.
"It was a funny race, she was two lengths last and chasing off the bit and no sooner than I thought 'gees what's going on here', that she had made up a good amount of ground," Ellerton said.
"We were tempted to go to Adelaide last week for a stakes race so we got a good consolation today.
"She's been a work in progress, she's tested everyone's patience, but she's just turned into a racehorse now and I'm sure we'll see a nice filly in the autumn.
"The spring is going to come too soon for her and she's had a busy prep. I'm not sure what we'll do with her right now but with spring in the paddock she'll be a nice filly in the autumn."
Parmie is the first foal of the class Statue Of Liberty (USA) mare Spirits Dance who reeled off four consecutive wins in Melbourne early in 2014 culminating with wins in the Group III Kevin Hayes Stakes and Group II Angus Armanasco Stakes both at Caulfield.
Spirits Dance is a pure David Moodie product being a daughter of the talented Hurricane Sky mare Jubilant Spirit who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Blazing Aura (Blazing Sword) the dam of Group III winner Red Flair (Testa Rossa) and Listed winner Distorted Halo (Distorted Humor).
Spirits Dance has a yearling colt by Redoute's Choice and a weanling filly by Zoustar. She was one of 186 mares to visit Lonhro's dual Group 1 winning son Impending at Darley Stud last spring.
Snitzel and I Am Invincible are having their own private battle for leading 2yo sire honours as the season draws to a close.
Snitzel countered with Parmie after I Am Invincible's daughter Lucicello had scored so impressively at Rosehill Gardens.
