Comfort Me shouldered off the fence at the furlong to continue his consistent form in the Vale Delicacy Hcp (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday.

The Playing God gelding was bolting behind front-runner Lonsdale Lady at the furlong before being manoeuvred into clear air by Craig Staples. He was racing first time at a mile but had enough in reserve to defeat Aconite and Leading Girl (NZ).

“I was pretty confident even when he was in that pocket,” trainer Rhys Radford said. “I’ve got an opinion of this horse and it’s good to see him proving it. We will see how he pulls up but he will likely go to the paddock now.”

Comfort Me (4g Playing God – Southern Comfort by Comfy) goes for a spell after a winter prep that comprised two wins and three placings from five starts. He had won a Westspeed bonus race last month and went back-to-back on Saturday.

“We got out late and it helped that he’s relaxing with the tongue-tie,” Staples said. “He really found the line and I’m looking forward to when he comes back for Ascot.”

Comfort Me was one of 7 individual winners by Playing God in August and he’s now second with earnings $301,022 behind his own sire Blackfriars ($412,025) on the WA sires’ premiership.

The winner is a homebred for Frank & May Edwards and is a full-brother to Son Of Bacchus who counted a Belmont win during his latest winter prep for the same connections. They also race G1 Railway Stakes winner Great Shot who finished down the track when resuming from a long spell in the LR Idyllic Prince Stakes last month.

Playing God stands for a $13,200 (inc gst) service fee at Darling View Thoroughbreds alongside I’m All The Talk ($6,600), Patronize ($4,400) and Lucky Street ($4,400) . All fees (inc GST).