Four In a Row for Blackfriars Come Play With Me

Mark Smith - Saturday July 21

Come Play With Me is doing his best to ensure his sadly missed sire Blackfriars won't be forgotten any time soon.

The Adam Durrant-trained 3yo colt made it four wins on the trot and the second stakes in succession in Saturday's Listed Belmont Classic (2200m).

Sent off an odds-on favourite following his win in the Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m) a fortnight back, Come Play With Me again relegated State Prosecutor to the runner-up stall although this one was not so emphatic.

Peter Knuckey had Play With Me travelling sweetly midfield while State Prosecutor was over-racing for William Pike as the field dawdled through early sectionals.

Pike drove State Prosecutor to the lead coming around the home turn as Play With Me followed him through and began whittling down the margin before proving a half-length too good.

The filly Habesha was three and a quarter lengths back in third.

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Bred by his trainer's father Geoff Durrant, Come Play With Me advances his record to 8 wins and 1 third from 16 starts with earnings of $401,440.

A brother to the 4-time winner Fast as the Wind, Come Play With Me is the second foal of the dual Listed stakes-winner Russian Playmate (Dr Johnson).

A half-sister to the stakes-placed Canardly Miss (Verglas), Russian Playmate has an unraced 2yo gelding named Black Russian and a yearling colt and weanling colt all by Blackfriars who died in December last year.

The Victoria Derby-winning son of Danehill has sired 39 stakes-winners to date.

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