Champion stallion Playing God sired his first juvenile winner of the season with True Apostle at Pinjarra a fortnight ago and he doubled up in that division when Gold Flakes scored like a seasoned professional at Ascot on Saturday.

Gold Flakes (2f Playing God – Corn Flakes by Oratorio) is a beautifully-bred filly and trainer Neville Parnham was quietly confident she would run in the money at her fourth start in the Seacorp Plate (1100m).

“She found the line nicely at her first two starts but then led and tired late last time,” Parnham recalled.  “She worked really well on Tuesday morning and the good draw suited today.  She’s eating well and not losing any weight but she will likely go to the paddock now.”

Parnham did consider throwing in a nom for the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) next Saturday for the filly who is raced by his wife Carol in partnership with Bob Pearson and Mike Fagan.  They bought her for $155,000 from Alwyn Park (as agent) at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.

Brad Parnham settled Gold Flakes in the box-seat behind Champagne Cathay (I’m All The Talk) who set quick sectionals that saw the winner clock 64.16s for 1100m.  “Dad said take a sit and the pace was genuine.  I was assessing our options when a dream rails run presented around the corner.”

Gold Flakes was bred at De Grey Park and her dam is now five-from-five at stud following Cornflower (Trade Fair), Corn Cob (Awesome Rock), Brekky With A Bang (Alfred Nobel) and Crunchy Nut (Ducimus).

Sadly, Saturday’s result emphasises the setbacks faced by De Grey Park’s Peter Vincent.  Corn Flakes has missed her last three covers to Rommel, Awesome Rock and Aysar.

Second-dam Corn Fields (Bletchley Park) is a half-sister to Sweet Corn (Scenic) who won a G3 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and foaled Baby Corn (Exceed and Excel) to a LR Pewsey Vale Stakes (1050m) victory at Morphettville.

Third-dam Corn Maizcay (Maizcay) won a LR Perth Stakes (1000m) at Ascot and there are seven black-type performers under her name in the catalogue.

Darling View Thoroughbreds champion Playing God isn’t known for his juveniles, however, there have been 13 individual winners headed by Ex Sport Man (G2 Karrakatta Plate & RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic) and Lordhelpmerun (G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes).

Lordhelpmerun was trained by Steve Wolfe and the Great Southern horseman prepares Playing God gelding Currimundi who ended his current prep with wins in the Albany Cup (2100m) and Diggers Cup (1800m) at Ascot on Anzac Day.