A Darling View Thoroughbreds double in Northam 3yo maidens yesterday can segue into a black-type attack at Ascot this weekend
Homebred filly Belle’s Fantasy struck first in the Avon Valley on Thursday and Darling View’s champion sire Playing God followed up with Success Play for his staunch supporter Neville Parnham.
Belle’s Fantasy was held up when runner-up on debut last month but stable apprentice Kristy Bennett ensured there were no excuses with a front-running victory in the Elders Rural Maiden (1300m).
The Dream Ahead filly is trained by David Harrison and he also prepared her dam Mystic Maid (Patronize) who was placed in a G2 Karrakatta Plate and G3 Gimcrack Stakes. She’s the first foal of the mare who stayed in the Hunter Valley to produce a Star Witness colt and Winning Rupert filly before returning home to be covered by Lucky Street last year.
Success Play (Playing God) appreciated the drop back to provincial company in the Elders Northam Maiden (1300m) after going close a couple of times at Belmont. Starting an odds-on favourite, he arrived in the last stride to defeat longshot Market Stryke (Stryker).
Parnham bought him for $57,500 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions and he’s the most recent foal of Hot Business (Zedrich) who is a winning half-sister Peters Investments Group 3 winner Shining Knight (Blackfriars).
The Northam double sent Playing God’s career stats to 50 individual winners of 150 races for prizemoney over $7.46 million.
Kingston Town Classic winner Kay Cee ($1.26 million) heads his chief-earner list from Karrakatta Plate winner Ex Sport Man ($528,946) who has opened an $8 second-favourite for the G2 WA Guineas on November 20.
Parnham has Kay Cee resuming from a spell in unison with her Playing God stablemate Platoon in the G3 Northerly Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Both gallopers impressed the champion trainer in recent hit-outs at Belmont. “I thought Kay Cee’s trial was a sign of her coming back to her best,” he said. “Platoon got back and closed off really well, too.
“Kay Cee was a bit disappointing in the winter months but appears to be going really good this time around. She’s showing a change of attitude at the track and her work has been terrific.”
Darling View stands Playing God for a $16,500 service fee in Mundijong alongside I’m All The Talk ($6,600), Patronize ($4,400) and Lucky Street ($3,300). All fees (inc GST).