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Playing God returned to form at Ascot on Saturday when the gelding posted back-to-back wins in the Group I Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
The Neville Parnham-trained galloper failed to fire during the Melbourne spring carnival but leading into Saturday's race had competed at Group I level at his last five outings.
Jockey Steven Parnham settled the son of Blackfriars in fourth spot, one off the rail.
The pair took off before the field straightened and booted clear soon after entering the home stretch.
Back in the pack, three-year-old King Saul and Battle Emblem began to warm up while the Grant Williams-trained Ranger charged along the inside.
Over the concluding stages, Playing God began to tire but his rivals were unable to bridge the winning gap established at the top of the straight.
"I was very confident the horse was gong to be very hard to beat today," Neville Parnham said.
"We had planned to ride him closer to the speed and its been very hard to make up ground today."
Parnham said he was aware of the horse's form slump and reacted accordingly changing his training technique with Playing God.
"I knew we had taken the sprint out of his legs leading into the Railway," he said.
"We changed his whole training routine around and it has paid off.
"He'll go the paddock now."
The trainer's son rode Playing God when victorious and again was aboard for the gelding's win this year.
The hoop described the win as "unbelievable" but said despite having the race win with more than 100m to go was reluctant to ease up on Playing God.
"When I felt I was ready to go I pulled him out," Stephen Parnham said.
"The way he let down I was very confident but you can't see what is behind you.
"To win is just unbelievable. He was down and out. The change in work load has brought him back."
Group 1 - 1800m Class: Open. Track: Good. Time: 1:49.56. Sectional Time: 0:35.04 at 600m. Prizemoney: $500,000 - 1st: $300,000 2nd: $100,000 3rd: $45,000. |
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| 1 | 10. Playing God | N D Parnham | S Parnham (5) |
$21
|
58.5 |
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4h Blackfriars
x Dolly Will Do
(Rubiton
) Not Offered |
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| 2 | 1.0 | 6. Ranger | Grant Williams | W Pike (3) |
$3.75
|
59.0 |
|
 5g Testa Rossa
x Marrich Bay
(Old Spice
)Not Offered |
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| 3 | 1.0 | 14. King Saul | T M Andrews | G Schofield (9) |
$5.50
|
52.0 |
|
|
3g Flying Pegasus
x Zenda (NZ)
(Zabeel (NZ)
) Not Offered |
|||||||
| 4 | 2.1 | 4. Battle Emblem | Grant Williams | Ms K Yuill (1) |
$101
|
59.0 |
|
| 8g Second Empire (IRE) x Mississippi Belle (Marooned (GB) ) | |||||||
| 5 | 3.3 | 11. Luckygray | G P Poletti | S O'Donnell (13) |
$2.75
|
58.5 |
|
| 4g Bradbury's Luck x Damah Lady (Mukaddamah (USA) ) | |||||||
| 6 | 3.5 | 13. Tranquility | Grant Williams | P Harvey (10) |
$13
|
57.0 |
|
| 5m Redoute's Choice x Creatrix (Umatilla (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 7 | 3.6 | 2. Lords Ransom | Grant Williams | J Whiting (6) |
$51
|
59.0 |
|
| 8g Jeune (GB) x Palace Alice (Palace Music (USA) ) | |||||||
| 8 | 3.7 | 9. Big Ted | Ivan Haggerty | J Brown (2) |
$151
|
59.0 |
|
| 6g Marooned (GB) x La Bolero (Salieri (USA) ) | |||||||
| 9 | 3.8 | 8. Kincaple (NZ) | M B Reed | T Turner (11) |
$16
|
59.0 |
|
| 6g Pentire (GB) x Kincaple Lass (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 10 | 3.9 | 12. Avienus | M C Webb | B Rawiller (4) |
$21
|
57.0 |
|
| 6m Reset x Genova (IRE) (Darshaan (GB) ) | |||||||
| 11 | 5.0 | 7. Spacecraft | D A Hayes | P Knuckey (7) |
$41
|
59.0 |
|
| 5g Galileo (IRE) x Demanding (Octagonal (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 12 | 5.8 | 1. Hadabeclorka | B R Larsson | G L Smith (12) |
$51
|
59.0 |
|
| 10g Hurricane Sky x Mrs. Bold (Snippets ) | |||||||
| 13 | 6.8 | 5. Mega Steel | B A McClune | Jarrad Noske (8) |
$61
|
59.0 |
|
| 6g Helenus x Cabernet Queen (Marauding (NZ) ) | |||||||
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