Dalyellup owner-breeder Betty Lammie is looking forward to the G2 Perth Cup (2400m) with Playhouse Patron after an all-the-way victory in the LR George Towton Cup (2200m) at Ascot.
Playhouse Patron (5g Patronize – Playhouse Theatre by Racer’s Edge) took up an unaccustomed role as pacemaker under Joey Azzopardi on Saturday and refused to lie down when headed by the favourite Diamond Scene (So You Think) half-way down the straight.
“He was very unlucky in the last Perth Cup,” Lammie said. “He wasn’t at the top of his game and we probably went to the well once too often. It’s been a better prep this time and he will be at the top of his game on New Year’s Day.”
Betty races Playhouse Patron with Karnup trainer Bob McPherson and his wife Jennie. His final lead-up for the $1 million Perth Cup will be in the LR ATA Stakes (2200m) next Wednesday, December 18.
Betty Lammie brings the Towton Cup winner back to scale on Saturday Photo: Western Racepix
Lammie originally bought into the family when paying $3,000 for Playhouse Patron’s second-dam West End Dancer (West Point) in 2009. She was offered by Victorian-based Chatswood Stud with a pedigree going back five generations to Gunsynd’s dam Woodie Wonder (Newtown Wonder).
“She was positive to Racer’s Edge and that foal was Playhouse Patron’s dam Playhouse Theatre,” Lammie recalled. “Bob bought Playhouse Theatre from me as a yearling and he raced her with friends for wins at Ascot and Belmont. When she finished racing, the syndicate sent her back home to become a broodmare.
“She died in October and Playhouse Patron was her third and final foal. We are breeding from her first foal West End Theatre (Rogano) and it won’t be long before her second foal Justhandy (Galah) goes to stud.”
West End Theatre won a trial at Lark Hill but did a tendon and retired unraced. Her 3yo is a Gingerbread Man named Main Act who was placed at Bunbury last month and her 2yo is a Ducimus gelding named On Cue.
Lammie leased Justhandy to Geraldton trainer Malcolm Mackenzie and the most recent of her 8 wins was on home turf in October. She was a more than handy 2yo with seconds to Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) and Queen Brown (Patronize) at Ascot while just missing black-type when fourth to Starfield Impact (Demerit) in the LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m).
