WESTERN Australia's leading trainer Neville Parnham broke through for his first group 1 victory when three-year-old Playing God scored a stylish win in the $500,000 Kingston Town Classic (1800 metres) at Ascot, reports the Sunday Age. Playing God ($3.10 fav) was given a perfect run camped just off the speed before he pounced in the straight and outlasted front-runner Impressive Jeuney ($12) by a half-length. Parnham has dominated WA racing with 12 trainers' premierships, but came up short in the
WESTERN Australia's leading trainer Neville Parnham broke through for his first group 1 victory when three-year-old Playing God scored a stylish win in the $500,000 Kingston Town Classic (1800 metres) at Ascot, reports the Sunday Age.
Playing God ($3.10 fav) was given a perfect run camped just off the speed before he pounced in the straight and outlasted front-runner Impressive Jeuney ($12) by a half-length.
Parnham has dominated WA racing with 12 trainers' premierships, but came up short in the elite features on several occasions. He has trained the second placegetters in three group 1s - the Railway Stakes, Kingston Town and WATC Derby. An emotional Parnham was elated to celebrate the win with his jockey son, Steven, the rider of Playing God.
The Blackfriars colt, who carried 52 kilograms, became the 14th three-year-old to win the Kingston Town since the weight-for-age race was first run in 1976.
"It's a great thrill," Neville Parnham said. "We hatched a plan prior to the race, expecting Impressive Jeuney to go forward. Steven had already spoken to me about being positive on him and we thought if we could get in to the one-one trail he'd make them carry the weight. We thought we could win it and very happy to have done so. He always took a bit of time to mature and this time in the only time he got beat was second-up."
Playing God also won the group 2 WA Guineas and last Saturday's Listed Aquanita Stakes last month.