Jordan Turner considers handy pick-up ride The Velvet Queen a genuine chance of scoring a knockout win in Saturday’s Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont.

Stefan Vahala is feeling a whole better about Aztec Ruler’s prospects going into Sunday’s Tabtouch Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m) than he was two weeks ago ahead of The Joey (1200m) at Ascot.

Steven Parnham has opted to forgo a Group 2 opportunity in Melbourne to remain focused on Perth’s Ascot meeting this Saturday.

From early on, trainer Stefan Vahala has tagged Aztec Ruler as a stakes horse in the making.

Top jockey Brad Parnham is hoping to make the most of the opportunity that has opened up for him in a Listed event at Bunbury on Saturday.