Playing God will face a tough test second-up in the Makybe Diva Stakes

Despite being heavily backed, trainer Neville Parnham has labelled the talented Playing God as vulnerable ahead of his second-up run in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

Playing God is currently in Melbourne to begin his spring preparation, which is due to culminate in the running of the $3 million Cox Plate.

“There are no So You Thinks standing out at the moment so it might be a good year for us to have a go,” Parnham said.

The exciting four-year-old finished second last start in his first-up run behind Idyllic Prince in the Listed Goodwood Sprint.

“The way he has come up this campaign he is definitely in with a show on Saturday, but he is a bit vulnerable second-up over a mile and with all the travelling he’s done,” Parnham said.

However, Parnham is also mindful of Playing God’s spectacular spring campaign that saw him place in three Group 1 races, including the Australian Cup behind Melbourne Cup-winner Shocking.

“His autumn campaign was excellent and to run third, as a three-year-old, to a Melbourne Cup winner at weight-for-age in the Australian Cup was a great effort,” Parnham said.

“We think he has got better for that campaign and he is a bigger and stronger horse at 540kg so we’re pretty happy with him.

“His first-up run was great and he has settled in well at Flemington and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”