Perth colt God Has Spoken was back in harness at Belmont on Saturday and he was a class above his older rivals in the Support Your Industry Bet Local Hcp (2000m).

God Has Spoken (3c Blackfriars – Dolly Will Do by Rubiton) appeared a quality colt when winning the G3 WA Sires Produce Stakes in April 2009.  He returned late last year to add the Listed Aquanita Stakes in November and then split seasoned campaigners Sniper’s Bullet and Scenic Shot in the G1 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.

Connections mapped out a WATC Derby campaign for the colt and he looked right on-course when beaten a half-length by Bridgestone in the Listed J C Roberts Stakes (1800m) in March.

God Has Spoken and fellow Perth stayers Bridgestone and Brother Mak were all set to fight out the finish of the WATC Derby until Lindsay Park raider Chartreux arrived to land the classic at the expense of the locals.

Trainer Neville Parnham decided to give the son of Blackfriars anther run or two before an extended break.  “He’s a lovely racehorse,” Parnham said.  “He pulled up in perfect order after the Derby and we did consider the Brisbane winter carnival.  But he will have an extended break before tackling the Ascot summer carnival.”

God Has Spoken was a $41,000 buy from Durham Lodge at the 2008 Perth Magic Millions and has already banked over $501,000 for the Cockatoo Ridge Syndicate.  His sire Blackfriars is a son of Danehill and was a G1 winner of the 1999 Victoria Derby for David Hayes and the Sangster family.

Blackfriars stands at Durham Lodge and there was a consolation for the stud’s owner David Smith when his Scenic mare Scenic Fair won the Matchmaker Classic on Derby day.  The Dan Morton trained mare accelerated in the straight to reel in runaway leader Peach Tree (Bel Esprit) to win by a neck.

Smith had first choice of the stallions nominations donated by Westspeed studs and he picked Taunton Vale sire Bearcat.  A Danehill brother to Catbird, he has been represented by Ascot winners Time To Climb and Kiddy Cat in his first crop.