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 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) has been consistent stayer for local owner-trainer Alan Smith and had just enough in reserve to defeat fast closer Pray Again (Playing God) by a nose in the Mt Barker Cup.

Deadly and Fast took 21 starts to break his maiden, nevertheless, 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 has the score on the board as 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 his 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 we’re hearing good reports of his yearlings from outside clients, too.

“Our Playing God colt from (G2) Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune) is one of the standouts,” Atwell revealed.  “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.

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 big but is a lovely cut of a horse.”

Darling View can play another winning hand in the $250,000 Magic Millions feature races at Pinjarra this Saturday 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.  “Besides They’reallsisters, he also has Paul Party, Yamanex, Capall Gasta in the final field for the Classic,” Atwell added.

“They’re speedy with natural ability and expectations have been high.  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’s a Trevor Andrews-prepared stablemate of Almighty Class and was a $60,000 Darling View-bred graduate from the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Sale.  He has also drawn ideally in the RL Magic Millions WA 3yo Trophy (1200m).

Playing God is double-handed in the Magic Millions WA 3yo Trophy with Country God and Eternal Wine.  He won it as a long odds-on favourite in 2011 after a completing a hat-trick in the G2 WA Guineas, LR Aquanita Stakes and G1 Kingston Town Classic.

Darling View also appears on the roll-call with its well-bred filly Enchanted Dream (Patronize) who completed a hat-trick in the 2017 Magic Millions WA 3yo Trophy.

Darling View’s first-crop yearlings by Zoustar sire Lightsaber at the Perth Magic Millions will be previewed in the TBWA report from the Swan Valley sale grounds next Tuesday.