Champion WA stallion Playing God sired his third Stakes winner this month when Rissoles charged home to claim the LR Sheila Gwynne Classic (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Rissoles follows Playing God’s earlier feature winners Rope Them In (Gr 3 Roma Cup) and Wonderfully Made (Gr 3 WA Oaks) in April. She is the 27th individual black-type winner by the Darling View Thoroughbreds resident and they have won 48 Stakes races for total prizemoney nearing $40 million.
Winning jockey Craig Parnham was content to keep Rissoles in the running run well off the pace before letting down to score by over a length running away from front-runner London’s Image (Headwater) and Earthstorm (Calyx).
“She’s a capable mare but bombed the start last time in the Marjorie Charleson Classic and her sectionals showed it was a good run,” trainer Luke Fernie recalled. “She doesn’t need a lot of work and appreciated the step up to 1400mm.”
Rissoles (Photo / Western Racepix) was bred and sold by Rangeview Stud for $85,000 to Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. She was purchased in partnership with Kevin Johnston and Simon Lill and last year’s wins in the Epona Classic (1200m) and Pearl Classic (1200m) have helped send her current earnings to $358,000.
Playing God sired her from Snitz ‘N’ Giggles (Snitzel) and the mare’s Playing God yearling colt made $75,000 to the bid of Noel Carter (Commercial Bloodstock) at this year’s Perth Magic Millions.
Their dam is half-sister to LR MVRC Carlyon Stakes (1000m) winner Acromantula (Written Tycoon) and second-dam For Your Eyes Only (Bletchley Park) was also a Listed winner of a Gimcrack Stakes, Ascot 1000 Guineas and Beaufine Stakes.
The Anzac Day event had been on the radar for Rigg since his mare Laced Up Heels (Toronado) was narrowly beaten by Sapphire Street (Street Boss) in the 2024 edition of the Sheila Gwynne Classic.
It also completed a double for Playing God after his mare Black Ora won the RSLWA Trophy (1000m). She represents the Playing God cross with Oratorio (Stravinsky) and they’ve clicked for an 86% winning strike-rate led by Bustler (G1 Railway Stakes) and Ex Sport Man (G2 Karrakatta Plate).
