Darling View Thoroughbreds sire Splintex is going gangbusters with his first crop and he doubled up in that division with 3yo fillies She’s a Splinter and Luminous Lil last week.
She’s a Splinter was an on-pace winner of the MC Equine Surfaces Hcp (1200m) at Belmont on Wednesday and Luminous Lil led from barrier-to-box under Shaun McGruddy in the UUA Maiden (1000m) at Northam on Thursday.
Luminous Lil was beaten a long neck by Cos I Am (I Am Invincible) on debut as an April 2yo and she was racing second-up in the Avon Valley for Darling View Racing and trainer David Harrison. Stewards reported she lay outwards over the final 200m while runner-up God She’s Good (Playing God) proved much more difficult for Lucy Fiore to ride out fully. She lay inwards and was momentarily inconvenienced at the 150m.
“Dave was keen on her chances and thought she could cross them and lead and that’s how it worked out,” Darling View manager Brent Atwell reported. “She took time to mature so we didn’t enter her for the Magic Millions Yearling Sale. She’s a progressive filly and that’s not unlike the majority by Splintex. He’s a son of Snitzel but he’s from a NZ-bred O’Reilly mare and we’ve always said they would hit their straps at three.”
Darling View purchased Luminous Lil’s dam Cabochon Lil (Sebring) for $150,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She was a Sunshine Coast winner and second-dam My Girl Lil (Not a Single Doubt) is an unraced half-sister to My Sister Lil (LR Ascot One Thousand Guineas).
The bottom-line traces back to 1997-98 NZ Horse Of The Year Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon) who was a dual classic winner of the NZ One Thousand Guineas and NZ Oaks. She also crossed the Tasman to claim another Group 1 scalp in the Canterbury Guineas at Rosehill.
Darling View is still taking bookings to Splintex who stands for a $4,400 (inc GST) service fee. That’s value-plus for a stallion who is a Top 5 Australian second-season sire for winners and wins this season.
Meanwhile, Darling View’s Champion WA Stallion Playing God sired a running double at Ascot on Saturday with Linchpin in the Westspeed Platinum Hcp (1400m) and Alaskan in the Schweppes Hcp (1800m). Linchpin is a homebred for Impressive Racing’s Darren McAuliffe and Kevin Berry and so is his dam Fo’ Shizzle (Universal Ruler).
Linchpin is a half-brother to Cool Memory (Impending) who was a Listed winner of the 2024 Aquanita Stakes (2000m) and 2025 Farnley Quality (1400m). Fo’ Shizzle was subsequently sold to Elvira Park owner David Moore and she has an Awesome Rock 2yo colt and a Playing God colt foaled in September.
