Playing God added another top prospect to his 3yo division when Stylish Lord bolted in by more than three lengths in the Quayclean Hcp (1400m) at Ascot on Wednesday.
Stylish Lord is trained by Russell Stewart for his wife Antonella and was bred by the Ascot couple (Photo / Western Racepix) in partnership with Queenslea Park owners Allan and Helen Morton. He’s the second and final foal of Ora Miss (Oratorio) who died in November 2020 and, tragically, Allan Morton also passed away in November last year.
Stewart had purchased Ora Miss for $70,000 at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale but she did a suspensory and only raced once. “We were heartbroken when Ora Miss died and we didn’t have a filly to carry on the line,” he said. “Stylish Lord is the family horse and did what we thought he could do today.
“It’s extra special when you breed them yourself and especially carrying the Q2P brand remembering Allan who foaled him down.”
Her first foal Swear To God is also a son of Playing God and he was trained by Stewart to earn over $300,000 before transferring to Stephen Miller’s beachside stable in November. Stewart was already fully engaged marshalling a 2yo team that includes Earthstorm (Calyx), Golden Kathleen (Leonardo da Hinchi) and Gold Maker (Universal Ruler).
Playing God’s current 3yo crop comprises 19 individual winners of 29 races led by Stakes-winners Zipaway, Investmentstrategy and Lord Vampi plus Stakes-performers Rope Them In, Almighty Class and Alaskan.
The Darling View Thoroughbreds champion is poised to collect a second straight WA sires’ premiership in 2023-24. He kicked off last Sunday’s Albany Cup meeting with maiden winners Plays With Magic and Punters Pilot before their stablemate Currimundi split runners in the straight under Shaun McGruddy to land the $125,000 Albany Cup (2100m).
Currimundi (5g Playing God – Pins Perhaps by Pins) gave trainer Steve Wolfe his fourth Albany Cup following Jobeth (Johannesburg), Impact Rating (Blackfriars) and Try A Tune (Stay Tuned). “He was the best horse here and winning a major race is great because they’re not easy” Wolfe said. “It needed a good run from the barrier and he was ridden brilliantly by ‘Shoooter’. That’s what wins races, good rides.
Playing God sired him from Wolfe’s Belmont-winning NZ-bred mare Pins Perhaps (Pins). Her only other foal The Spruiker (I’m All The Talk) has earned $753,000 to date with Westspeed Bonuses of $245,100.
Both gallopers were bred by Wolfe and most of the part-owners – Graeme Evans, John Vujcich, Kevin Patten, John Gillam and Noel Carter – are in both horses.
Wolfe had been instrumental getting Playing God off the ground at stud with his first-crop black-type winner Lordhelpmerun (G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes). The Great Southern horseman also put the polish on his third-crop feature winner Ex Sport Man (G2 Karrakatta Plate & RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic).
