Playing God will be tested against the country’s best of his age after scoring a brilliant fresh win in today’s $126,100 R.M.Williams Magic Millions Perth 3yo Trophy (1400m) at Ascot.
Ridden confidently by Steven Parnham, Playing God cruising home to beat Luckygray in a quinella result that was tipped by most.
Today’s run was the first for the classy three-year-old since he beat the older horses in the Group One Kingston Town Stakes at the same track in early December.
Parnham and the colt’s owner Colin Loxton are set to send their stable star east for the Group One Australian Guineas at Flemington in three weeks.
“It was a pretty good win,” Parnham said. “He may have been feeling it a bit on the line.”
“Steve was able to get him into a perfect position particularly with the conditions favouring the on speed runners.”
“He put him right into the race at the corner and he was always going to win the race from that point on.”
“Pre-race we thought we might have even been out three deep punching the breeze but it was a good ride from Steve and he was able to get him into a great position to win the race.”
“He found a few lengths very quickly coming to the turn and he won as he liked.”
“He had a gallop here on the grass on Saturday morning and it was sensational work.”
“It’s always easy to stay on your home turf – but he’s an entire and if you don’t have a go at these opportunities you’d probably do yourself an injustice.”
“He’s done enough in Western Australia to be a nice entire for someone to stand. But if was able to go to and win a race like the Australian Guineas it would take him to another level.”
As well as the Australian Guineas, Playing God holds an entry for the Group One Australian Cup – a race in which he would be well suited at weight-for-age.
Parnham said if the colt did perform well in the Guineas there was also an option to head north to Sydney for a possible crack at the AJC Derby.
In winning, the Blackfriars colt sent his earnings soaring past the $700,000 barrier with his sixth win at start number 10.
He’s turned out a great money spinner for his connections after being purchased by Neville Parnham for Colin Loxton’s Cockatoo Ridge Syndicate for just $27,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
A graduate of Durham Lodge, Playing God is a full brother to the group winner and fellow Parnham trained star God Has Spoken.
Winner: Playing God (Blackfriars-Dolly Will Do)
Race: WATC R.M.Williams Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1400m)
Sold for: $27,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Durham Lodge
Buyer: Parnham’s Racing Stable
Earnings: $709,403
Owner(s): Cockatoo Ridge Synciate (Mgr: CW Loxton)
Trainer: Neville Parnham (Ascot)
