Playing God's Zipaway Claims the WA Guineas

Mark Smith - Saturday November 25

The Neville Parnham-trained Zipaway emulated his sire Playing God when capturing Saturday’s $500,000 Group II Sky Racing - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.

Zipaway - Steven Parnham (image Western Racepix)

Given a positive ride by Steven Parnham, Zipaway battled tenaciously to deny the fast-finishing A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot) by a neck with the short-priced favourite Super Smink (Super One) a short-neck back in third.

With his first stakes success, Zipaway advances his record to three wins, a second, and a third from seven starts with earnings of $487,850.

Advertisement

“I was very confident he would win,” Neville Parham revealed.

“Like Playing God, he is very athletic, but this guy is a gelding and does not hold so much condition.

&

;ldq

uo;”I bred this horse and raced the mare, Boutique. She is a half to Red Can Man and Quilista, so she has put a bit of sprinting blood in him. She is by Discorsi and won over 2000m.

“Providing he pulls up sound and happy, he will go to the Northerly. He has never had a sore day, so I don’t see why he wouldn’t.

Zipaway deserved that one (image Western Racepix)

“I think he is the perfect horse for it as a 3-year-old. He can race on pace with a turn of foot at the end of it and I don’t see 1800m as a problem.

Bred by Neville and Carolyn Parnham, Zipaway is the best of two winners from as many to race from the winning Discorsi mare Boutique, a half-sister to Group II ATC Sapphire Stakes winner Quilista and Group III  MRC Sir John Monash Stakes winner Red Can Man.

Boutique has visited Playing God in her first five seasons. She has a 3-year-old filly, Mainshow, a yearling colt, and was covered last December by the Darling View Thoroughbreds stallion.

Breednet's new family search of sales yearlings finds Lot 75 at Magic Millions from Cressfield from the same family, a Snitzel filly from Quilista.

Zipaway is the 16th stakes-winner for Playing God. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Sky Racing - WA Guineas Gr2 1600m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.35
1
Zipaway
- 3g Playing God (AUS) x Boutique (AUS) (Discorsi (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 56.5
MM Perth Yearling Sale $65,000
Seller: Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA (As Agent)
Buyer: Michael Fagan
2
0.3
A Lot Of Good Men
- 3c A Lot (USA) x Cosmah Domination (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: T M Andrews Rdr: P Harvey 56.5
3
0.5
Super Smink
- 3f Super One (AUS) x Sminky Shorts (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Chris Parnham 54.5
4
2.1
Blue Lagoon
- 3g Supido (AUS) x Chardonnay (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: Sue Olive Rdr: Holly Watson 56.5
5
2.2
Investmentstrategy
- 3c Playing God (AUS) x World Class (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: B Parnham 56.5
6
2.7
Cosmic Crusader
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Cosmic Storm (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Ms D Riordan Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 56.5
7
3.5
Autumn Rebel
- 3c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Rebel Queen (AUS) (Universal Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: D T McAuliffe Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
8
4.5
Rope Them In
- 3g Playing God (AUS) x Lead Rope (AUS) (Real Jester (AUS))
Tnr: S J Wolfe Rdr: P Knuckey 56.5
9
5.8
Masamune
- 3c Universal Ruler (AUS) x Shibata (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: D T McAuliffe Rdr: Jamie Kah 56.5
10
8.2
Weeraechoux
- 3g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Rae's Rae (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Brian Kersley Rdr: Lucy Fiore 56.5
11
8.8
Big Player
- 3g Performer (AUS) x Aloe Vera (AUS) (Good Journey (USA))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Michael Poy 56.5
12
9.7
Odin Omen
- 3g Rubick (AUS) x Musica Royale (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: A W Maley Rdr: Jarrad Noske 56.5
13
10.4
Five Down
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Suemori (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: D Moor 56.5
More Reading...
El Vencedor Primed for Hong Kong
It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
Almanzor Mare Benefits from Maturity
Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season.
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 15
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?