Darling View Thoroughbreds Playing God enjoyed a remarkable Saturday at Ascot, siring the winners of three of the five stakes races.
In addition to the Group III Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) winner Rope Them In, Playing God’s 6-year-old son Mojo Rhythm defended his title in the Group III R.J. Peters Stakes (1500m) and the 5-year-old mare Baby Paris made a one-act affair of the Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1200m).
Mojo Rhythm had not won a race since capturing the R.J. Peters twelve months ago.
Ridden by Pat Carbery for Mitchell Pateman, Mojo Rhythm defeated the fast-finishing Yonga Lass (Universal Ruler) by a short-neck with Amber Glide (Nicconi) a neck back in third.
It was the second win in the race for Carbery, who had the sit on the champion Northerly in 2000.
Mitchell Pateman said the winner has his quirks.
“He is a hard horse to train as he is so big and gross,” he said.
“If you work him too hard, he races flat, so I’ve been nice to him. He needed the run in his first two and I got stuck into him a bit and he has improved out of sight.
“We’re off to a Railway (Stakes) again.”
A homebred for the Ott family, Mojo Rhythm advances his record to seven wins two seconds and six thirds from 33 starts with earnings of $508,255.
He is the best of two winners from as many to race for the unraced Grey Swallow mare Saddle Me Up, who was covered by God Has Spoken last spring.
Baby Paris has a near 50 % winning record, and she showed why in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1200m).
Taken straight to the front by Troy Turner from an outside barrier, the daughter of Playing God ran her opponents ragged.
She was untroubled to defeat the favourite The Boss Lady (Street Boss) by two lengths with Duchess Of Gossip (All American) a neck back in third.
A homebred for Gary Bowen, Baby Paris advances her record to nine wins, two seconds, and a third from 20 starts with earnings of $819,880.
Veteran trainer Colin Webster said the daughter of Playing God is a stable favourite.
“She’s a great little mare. The wide barrier had me worried, but once she jumped and got to the lead, I was confident she would keep going,” Webster said.
Baby Paris is the only foal for the 4-time winner War In Paris (War Chant) a half-sister to stakes-placed Centrum (Danetime) out of the Listed Ngawyni Stakes winner Paris Moon (Metal Storm).
