'The next Pavel'? Parsimony gets a Dubai World Cup audition
Reddam Racing’s Parsimony will try to stamp his ticket to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) when he lines up in Thursday’s $175,000 Curlin Stakes at Meydan.
It's a course and distance opportunity to make up for his fourth-place finish five weeks ago handicap company. Unlike that day, when he was forced to set a hot pace from his rail draw, the Doug O’Neill-trained son of Dominus will likely be a more relaxed character this time, per assistant conditioner Leandro Mora.
“He can break second and he doesn’t have to kill himself with the speed horses this time,” Mora said. “But if the others don’t go, then we will. There is a Plan A and Plan B and he doesn’t have to be on the lead, but should be quick.
“He has always been a positive horse who ran with a lot of tough horses at home — that’s why he has seven seconds and one win,” Mora continued. “He was a little immature last year and was growing, but has matured into a nice horse and loves Meydan. He has been galloping so strong. We decided not to gallop him (Tuesday morning) and are just going to jog him up to the race. He is coming into this race fresh and that’s what we like to see.
"We think he could be the next Pavel.”
Currently rated 100, the colt will be looking to prove his worth against some accomplished foes, but that is par for the course for Parsimony. In the past year, he has tackled some of the best of his generation in the United States, including champion Game Winner, multiple Grade 1-winning Omaha Beach and eventual Belmont Stakes winner and 2020 Dubai World Cup hopeful Sir Winston.
The Curlin has been a steppingstone to Dubai World Cup wins for its namesake (when contested as the Jaguar Trophy) and California Chrome prior to his 2016 victory. Last year, South Korean import Dolkong used a one-sided victory in the Curlin as a springboard to the Dubai World Cup, with a third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) in between.
With a big run on Thursday, Parsimony looks to give his connections a runner in the race for a third consecutive year, having finished fourth in the past two editions with Pavel, also a Grade 1 winner in America.
“He has to win to make it into the big party,” Mora said. “If he places, we don’t think he will make it in. It’s a race that will give us options. The (Group 2, $1.5 million) Godolphin Mile could be our back-up plan.”