Kay Cee Strickland Bounce Back Expected

Trainer Neville Parnham insists his classy mare Kay Cee (Playing God-Flirt N Hope, by McFlirt) can return to her winning ways in the Gr3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont on Saturday, reports rwwa.com.au. Having trained the winner of the Strickland Stakes twice before, Parnham is unfazed by Kay Cee’s two runs this time in and believes she is poised to bounce back. Kay Cee ran tenth to The Velvet King when first-up in the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and then ninth behind Valour Road in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m), with the trainer admitting, on face value, the mare’s performance in the Hyperion Stakes looked underwhelming, but on reflection he says she had excuses. A winner of the Gr1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) as a 3YO, Parnham says Kay Cee is considerably better than what she has shown this campaign, and is confident a rise in distance and improved track conditions will see a better effort from the daughter of Playing God (Blackfriars). Armed with a catapult-like finish, Kay Cee can give Parnham a third Strickland Stakes victory. He won previously with God Has Spoken (2011) and Higginsville (1991).