Since finishing fifth at Belmont at her debut last season at two, the Playing God filly Feels Playful has been a model of consistency and was rewarded with a maiden stakes success in Saturday's Listed Morley Market-Challenge Stakes (1500m) at Ascot.
Under a vigorous front-running ride by Holly Watson, the Mitchell Pateman-trained filly defeated the stubborn Admiration Express (My Admiration) by a half-length, with Saintorio (Oratorio) a further one and a half lengths back in third.
Coming off a narrow defeat to All The King's Men in the Listed Greenfields Breeders' Classic at Pinjarra Scarpside on January 29, Feels Playful advances her record to three wins and two seconds with earnings of $298,195.
"I honestly thought she was better leading to this week than she was into the Breeders, where she was a month between runs," Pateman said.
"She tightened up well. Though the pattern of the day had not been great, I told Holly it might work in our favour if we got it a bit softer because no one wanted to be there. And that is what happened.
"I said that if you get it soft, open up around the corner and get them chasing because she is tough.
"Her heart rate suggests she will run 2200m or 2400m, so if you can get a gap on them, they are hard to run down.
"That was her fifth run of the campaign. We did not envisage getting to this level so quickly. We hadn't planned an Oaks campaign, but the way she is going, she will head there unless she puts in a bodgie.
"She is tough as nails, goes home, licks the bowl, and bounces around Monday morning.
"That is typical of the Playing Gods. They are tough horses, and I wouldn't mind a stable full of them because they are also pretty good."
Feels Playful was bred by Dr Colin Davey, who owns the Balgownie Equine Veterinary Clinic at King River.
The daughter of Playing God is a half-sister to Group III Western Australian Oaks runner-up Feels Danish (Danehill Express), out of the unraced Dr Johnson mare Fells Like Spring.
Feels Like Spring has not had a live foal since Fells Playful. She was covered last spring by A Lot (USA).
Feels Playful is the 11th stakes-winner for Playing God.
The Darling View Thoroughbreds stallion has assumed the mantle of the best in the west from his hugely popular sire, Blackfriars. And he has done it the hard way.
The dual Group 1 WATC Kingston Town Classic hero left just 19 foals in his third crop off a fee of $4,400.
Last season Playing God covered a career-high 132 mares despite his fee jumping to $27,500.
