Playing God does it again

Playing God has become the first horse in a decade to win the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in consecutive years when he saluted in the Group 1 feature at Ascot on Saturday.

The Neville Parnham-trained galloper had a disappointing spring carnival and was rated a $19 chance to be the first horse since Old Comrade in 2001 to win in back-to-back years.

Jockey Steven Parnham, Neville's son, worked the gelding into a superb position in fourth spot, one off the rail before exploding at the top of the straight.

Despite tiring as he approached the finishing line, Playing God had a bigger enough lead to hold on with Ranger and King Saul making up the minor places.

"I was very confident the horse was going to be very hard to beat today," Neville Parnham said.

"We had planned to ride him closer to the speed and it's been very hard to make up ground today."

Parnham also said he was aware of the form slump and introduced some changes ahead of the gelding's final race of the year.

"I knew we had taken the sprint out of his legs leading into the Railway," he said.

"We changed his whole training routine around and it has paid off."

"He'll go the paddock now."