Dual Kingston Town Classic winner Playing God is looking to write another chapter in the history books if he can make it three wins in a row in the Festival Of Perth Racing’s feature weight for age race at Ascot on Saturday.
Playing God will aim for their third Kingston Town Classic victory. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Playing God joined an elite group when he scored back to back victories last year but can go one step higher if he can take out his year’s Group 1 $500,000 GR Engineering Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
Old Comrade, a winner in 2000 and 2001 and Summer Beau, 1996 and 1997 won back to back Classics while Niconero, 2006 and 2008 and Family Of Man, 1976 and 1978 have two wins a year apart.
Playing God put the writing on the wall last start with a gutsy fourth to Mr Moet in the Group 1 $1m Carlton Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 24 and trainer Neville Parnham says he has the five year old ready to produce his best on Saturday.
“He has been going to the beach each day and is thriving,” Parnham said.
Parnham took Playing God to Melbourne during the Spring Carnival and gave him one run in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 10 where he finished fourteenth to Happy Trails after being badly held up for a run on the home turn.
Even though Parnham would have liked to have Playing God back in Perth a bit earlier, the entire showed in the Railway Stakes that he had taken no harm from his trip to Melbourne and will be spot on to try to win his first race since taking out the Kingston Town Classic last year.
“I wish I had Playing God home a week earlier,” Parnham said.
Parnham will also saddle up Playing God’s big brother God Has Spoken and the top Western Australian trainer says the six year old is also a great chance after finishing just behind his stablemate when fifth in the Railway Stakes and is a winner at weight for age in the past..
“God Has Spoken has won the Cox Stakes and Strickland Stakes at two of his past three starts at WFA. The weight won’t worry him.”
God Has Spoken’s last attempt at weight for age saw him run second to Luckygray in the Group 2 $200,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 10 and the step up to the 1800m of the Kingston Town Classic will suit the six year old better.
Local hero Luckygray heads the market for the Kingston Town Classic at $2.70 while Playing God is holding down the second spot at $5 in front of Ranger at $9.
Railway Stakes winner Mr Moet is at $12 while God Has Spoken is further down the betting at $26.
