Masmelo scores minor upset in Natasha Stakes, exacting revenge over hotpot Wonderfully Made to stamp Oaks bid

Masmelo exacted revenge for her 1000 Guineas defeat at the hands of hot fancy Wonderfully Made in the Listed $125,000 Natasha Stakes (2200m) at Ascot, stamping her credentials for a rematch in next fortnight’s WA Oaks. Beginning from gate No. 1, the same alley as the 1000 Guineas two weeks ago, Masmelo ($4.80) was able to position much closer and tailed front-runner Admire Astra ($14). Importantly, with this more proximal position, it put Masmelo and Chris Parnham many lengths ahead of Wonderfully Made ($1.50f) and William Pike, with their last-start vanquisher second last and six lengths further afield. Upon straightening, Parnham eased the Maschino youngster away from the leader’s heels and the pair quickly conquered Admire Astra, while Wonderfully Made dived back towards the inside in a desperate attempt to make up ground. But Masmelo had stolen a march and raced to a length win over Admire Astra, with Wonderfully Made doing her best work late a further three-quarters of a length away. The rise from 1800m can test out some three-year-old fillies in the lead-up to the WA Oaks, though trainer Neville Parnham never doubted Masmelo’s stamina. “I was very confident she’d run the distance; I think she could run about three mile, to be honest,” he said. “She’s a beautifully relaxed filly and she’s come up really well after a short break. “She won on Melbourne Cup Day and then she ran a good race in the Champion Fillies’. I decided to give her a little bit of a let-up, and she’s come through really well. “I was a bit worried I hadn’t given her enough work. She worked by herself on Tuesday morning and I was a bit reserved because I would’ve liked to see her put a bit more effort into her workout. “So, I do feel like this run will bring her on again.” The leading conditioner said the big filly was not best suited by drawing to the inside and could be better served when drawn off the rail. “She’s a big-striding filly and she probably would be better winding up,” he said. “The day she won her maiden, she got wound up from back in the field and sprinted to the lead not far into the straight and strode right away to win by five or six lengths.” His son, Chris, felt that she would be able occupy a more forward role this week over the extra journey, which proved a decisive winning factor. “It was a fast-run 1000 Guineas for a small field, and I didn’t expect them to go out that quick (last start),” Chris Parnham said. “Today, drawn barrier one, it wasn’t ideal again, but I was confident stepping up in distance she would hold a position closer. “I don’t think it really matters. As long as she can get a nice cuddle somewhere… I think she’s certainly good enough to win it (the WA Oaks).”