[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Playing God mare God’s Grin broke through for a deserved win at Belmont on Saturday when taking out the TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Handicap (1600m).
Ridden by apprentice Holly Nottle, the four-year-old jumped a $7.50 chance at her third run back from a spell after being held up for clear running at crucial stages when narrowly beaten at her previous two outings.
It looked set to be a similar story when she landed in the box seat in running and was strung up behind tiring leader Forever Dreaming ($18) on straightening, however, Nottle was able to extricate her into the clear passing the 150m mark and the bay did the rest.
She finished powerfully to hold off the fast-finishing race favourite, Strapping Prophet ($3.50), by a long head on the line, with Cruise To Rio ($26) a further long neck away in third place.
Bred and part-owned by Aaron Morton of Queenslea Park Thoroughbreds, God’s Grin has been a model of consistency throughout her career with top-three finishes at nine of her 11 starts to date.
The lightly-raced mare has now recorded three wins, three seconds and three thirds, with stake and Westspeed Platinum earnings totalling $97,890.
Meanwhile, stablemates Exceltrain and Sinful Living ran third and fourth respectively in other races on the Belmont card.
Stable warhorses Let’s Galahvant and Ginger Baker are set to contest next Sunday’s $125,000 Listed South West Cup (2200m) at Bunbury.