PERTH - Local 3-year-old Playing God has given veteran Perth trainer Neville Parnham an overdue group one victory in the Kingston Town Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The win was a Parnham family affair with Neville's son Steven guiding Playing God to a stirring win over Impressive Jeuney in the1800m feature, the last Australian group one race of the year.
Although Neville Parnham has trained a host of big-race winners, victory at the highest level had eluded him until Saturday.
"It's a great thrill obviously and to share it with my son as well it's great," Parnham said on Saturday.
Playing God was sent out the $3.10 favourite based on his win in the previous week's Aquanita Stakes and Steven Parnham rode him aggressively, keeping in touch with Impressive Jeuney parked one-out one-back.
Playing God moved up to Impressive Jeuney ($12) in the straight but the mare proved hard to get past and Parnham had to get busy on the colt inside the final 100m.
Eventually, he prevailed by a half length with Trusting ($6) running on for third three-quarters of a length away.
"We had a plan prior to the race and we were expecting Impressive Jeuney to go forward," Neville Parnham said.
"We knew we had to be positive and get into that one-one trail. It's been a busy week but we thought we could win it.
"Impressive Jeuney was the danger. Those sorts of horses are hard to get past, I gave her a great chance.
"I think he's a pretty special horse."
The Parnhams are steeped in West Australian racing history and 25-year-old Steven Parnham is a fourth-generation jockey.
"It's an amazing feeling, I can't describe it," he said.
"It's unbelievable, it's a dream and to do it for Dad, it's the ultimate.
"I rode him positive - I needed a bit of luck to get the spot I did and it worked out beautiful.
"I had that lovely run and was able to put him in race at right time.
"Impressive Jeuney is very tough and she didn't give up.
Playing God will now go for a spell, while Impressive Jeuney, winner of the WA Oaks earlier this year, is the nominal favourite for the Perth Cup on New Year's Day.
