Playing God’s 4yo crop leaders Rope Them In and Almighty Class can propel another title push for our reigning champion sire at The Pinnacles and there’s more coming through the ranks like last Thursday’s Northam maiden winner True Player.
True Player is a member of the Williams Racing team and was getting out to a mile second-up this prep in the Vero Maiden (1600m). His first start as an autumn 3yo didn’t last past a never-nearer 13th at Pinjarra in April when stewards reported he returned to scale shin-sore.
Willie Pike settled him back in the pack on the fence at Northam before angling wide behind a wall of horses in the straight. When a gap appeared outside Dented Romance (Dissident), Pike let him balance up and then sent him clear of front-runner Ah Kum (Awesome Rock).
“A first look at 1600m saw ‘Truey’ straight into the winners circle with a convincing win from back in the field,” Williams Racing posted. “He ran over the top of his rivals late and eased up on the line! He’s a genuine 4yo who will remain very competitive over a trip,”
Playing God sired him from True Surrender (Poliuto) who was an Ascot winner for Darryn Pateman in 2003. She’s a blood-sister Surrender To Me (LR Raconteur Stakes) and was one of WA’s more productive mares at stud before being pensioned by Great Southern breeder Gray Williamson in November 2022.
True Player is the 10th and final winner from True Surrender and the best of them so far has been G2 WA Guineas winner Moccasin Bend (Eternity Range).
Meanwhile, Playing God 3yo filly Divine Impact won again for part-owner and trainer Neville Parnham at Ascot last Wednesday.
An all-the-way victory in the Swick Mining Services Hcp (1400m) completed a city double for the long odds-on favourite following a first-up win at Belmont last month. Darling View Thoroughbreds bred and sold Divine Impact for $160,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and kept a share with a stable partnership at Parnham Racing. Her dam Eladdair (Elusive Quality) is owned by Darling View and she is five-for-five at stud with prior winners by Oratorio, Divine Prophet, Exceed And Excel and Nicconi.
Darling View Thoroughbreds stands Playing God for $49,500 with Splintex ($11,000) and Lightsaber ($6,600). Service fees (inc GST). Stud manager Brent Atwell can be contacted for bookings or more information on 0408 648 100.