Darling View Thoroughbreds

Since finishing fifth at Belmont at her debut last season at two, the Playing God filly Feels Playful has been a model of consistency and was rewarded with a maiden stakes success in Saturday's Listed Morley Market-Challenge Stakes (1500m) at Ascot.

Since winning the Group II Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick 12 months ago, the Mark Newnham-trained Splintex has fallen short in six starts against some of the best sprinters in training.

The Group II VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes is on the radar for the Peter Moody-trained Lightsaber after the son of Zoustar overcame a three-wide-trip to open his winning account over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.

After current leader Pierro quinelled the Listed Fernhill Mile, Snitzel has countered with a quickfire two stakes-winners at Randwick, Away Game in the Group II Percy Sykes Stakes and the progressive Splintex, who had the honour of becoming his champion sire’s 100th stakes-winner, with a hard-fought win in the Group II Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).

Neville Parnham trained Playing God to win the Kingston Town Classic in 2010 and 2011 so it was fitting he would have the honour of training Playing God’s first Group 1 winner and it just happened to come in the 2019 edition of the final Group 1 of the year.

Mungrup Stud freshman Playing God jumped the gun when the first 2yo trials of the season were conducted at Belmont on Monday morning.