Playing God doesn’t do things by halves and that was evident when he sired the LR Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) quinella at Ascot on Saturday and the Mt Barker Cup (2000m) quinella on Sunday.
Almighty Class (5g Playing God – My Classy Lady by Oratorio) became the 25th individual black-type winner for Playing God and his second in the Cyril Flower following Platoon in 2021. He went out a short-priced favourite first-up for new trainer Trevor Andrews despite being sidelined since Anzac Day last year.
After tracking Sky Duke (Playing God) into the straight, Almighty Class (Photo: Western Racepix) put the front-runner away to score eased down by Willie Pike. “He’s fast and has got a motor but has had issues,” Andrews revealed. “They’re not major but he’s a big horse and feels the firm tracks at this time of the year so we keep him in cotton wool.”
Almighty Class will now be set for the LR Pinjarra Classic (1300m) on February 22 and the LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) on March 7.
Deadly And Fast (7g Playing God – French Beauty by Poliuto) had just enough in reserve to defeat fast closer Pray Again (Playing God) by a nose in the Mt Barker Cup. He was dominant in the Road to Jericho Cup Qualifier (3100m) last season and all six of his career wins have been in the Great Southern for earnings of $184,000.
Playing God is the go-to sire for buyers in Perth. He topped last year’s Book 1 stats with 3 or more sold for turnover ($3.08 million) and average ($154,250) with top-price of $450,000 paid for the colt from Clear Blue Sky (Sessions). He’s with Dan Morton and is named God’s Hammer.
The Champion WA stallion stands at Darling View Thoroughbreds and 12 of his yearlings are coming up from home-base at Mundaring next week. “Naturally, we’re looking forward to presenting them in the Swan Valley,” stud manager Brent Atwell said.
“They’re a consistent bunch across the board and our Playing God colt from (G2) Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune) is one of the standouts. He owns a Group 1 pedigree and is a quality individual.”
Catalogued as Lot 110, he’s a half-brother to 8 winners including Western Empire (G1 Railway Stakes & G2 WA Derby) and Western Temple (LR Bunbury Stakes). Darling View bought their dam Western Jewel from Peters Investments for $55,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Photo / Playing God half-brother to Western Empire
There’s another Playing God highlight within minutes when the colt from Wild Memories (Patronize) parades as Lot 112. His dam is a half-sister to Wilchino (Maschino) who was a regular city-winning sprinter at Ascot (5) and Belmont (4) for trainer Dan Morton.
“The colt looks a speedy type, too,” Atwell said. “He’s not overly big but is a lovely cut of a horse.”
Darling View can play another winning hand this Saturday in the $250,000 Magic Millions feature races at Pinjarra with last-start winners They’reallsisters (Splintex) and Sound Of Speed (Microphone).
They’reallsisters registered the first win for Darling View freshman Splintex when she saluted on debut at Ascot during the Australia Day long-weekend and will be one of the favourites from a good gate in the Magic Millions WA 2yo Classic (1200m).
Splintex (Snitzel) has 23 second-crop yearlings entered for the Magic Millions Sale next week with 7 of them being prepped by the team at Darling View. “They’re a speedy breed with natural ability and expectations have been high,” Atwell added. “Splintex didn’t win until he was a May 2yo and his first crop are improving all the time.”
Sound Of Speed (Microphone) opened last Ascot’s Saturday’s meeting with an impressive victory in the Mrs Mac’s Hcp (1100m). He was a $60,000 Darling View-bred graduate from the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Sale and has also drawn ideally in the RL Magic Millions WA 3yo Trophy (1200m).
Darling View sire Lightsaber has 24 first-crop yearlings for sale from a dozen separate vendors at the Perth Magic Millions. “Our on-site inspections has been positive and we’re getting the same feedback from other farms,” Atwell said this week.
Lightsaber won a G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and he’s a son of Champion Australian Sire Zoustar who is also making waves as a sire of sires led by Zousain and his first-crop Group 3 winners Drifting (ATC Magic Night Stakes) and Amelita (VRC Red Roses Stakes).
The first Lightsaber to parade on Day 1 next Thursday is a colt from one of Darling View’s favourite families. Catalogued as Lot 16, he’s a half-brother to three city winners from Jest Envy Her (Patronize) who is a half-sister to The River (RL Magic Millions 2yo Classic) and the dam of West Star (G3 Northam Stakes).
Darling View bred and raced his second-dam Jestceny (Real Jester) who won at her only start at Ascot in December 2006. Atwell describes the first Lightsaber from the family as a quality colt and a beautiful mover as is the Lightsaber colt from American Pharoah mare Velocitude (Lot 298) on Day 2.
The Darling View consignment of 27 lots are stabled in Barns A & B, L & M. Brent Atwell can be contacted for further information on 0408 648 100.
