Mungrup Stud’s new stallion Playing God is assured of a book befitting his stature as one of the best gallopers to ever race in Western Australia.
Playing God was a dual winner of the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes and he only went down a length to Ihtsahymn when going for a third victory in Ascot’s signature event in December. He was also Group 1 placed behind Black Caviar and Shocking in Melbourne.
“No local horse of his calibre has stood here since Aquanita!” Mungrup Stud owner Gray Williamson claimed this week. “He was a two year-old winner at Ascot and then came back for an absolute stellar season as a three year-old.”
Playing God (pictured with Mungrup manager Claire Williamson) won the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) and LR Aquanita Stakes (1800m) before completing a feature hat-trick in the G1 Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) at weight-for-age.
He then left Luckygray chasing shadows in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy before travelling east for Group 1 placings in the Australian Guineas and Australian Cup at Flemington.
He stayed in training and, despite going down a length as favourite in the G1 WATC Derby (2400m), lost no admirers after rocketing home from the back-end of a capacity field.
Timeform ranked Playing God the equal of Buffering and Sincero in his classic year. He was also voted WA Horse of the Year and his 121 rating was the highest ever awarded to a three year-old from Perth.
“He’s the sweetest mover even though he’s quite a big horse,” Williamson said. “He just floats around the paddock.
“We bought him outright and the interest from breeders has been very encouraging. It helps that he performed in Perth – his stock will adapt to our local conditions.”
Playing God represents the Danehill sireline through Sunspeed title-holder Blackfriars. “Standing the best colt by a champion stallion is always an advantage,” Williamson continued. “Another plus is that he was more precocious and versatile than Blackfriars.”
Mungrup has placed a $6,600 (inc gst) fee on Playing God for his initial book this year. “He’s a well-natured horse and pricks his ears when he sees our mares in the distance,” Williamson added. “There won’t be any dramas in that department.”
Mares already booked to Playing God this season include: BONNY BELLE (Dam of SP Singapore winner Rikioh), DAWINNER (SP Oratorio filly), FULL ON STORM (Metal Storm half-sister to SW Waratah’s Secret), JUST AS BEAUTIFUL (Dam of G2 Pago Pago Stakes winner Salade), MAJESTIC BELLE (Dam of SW Global Flirt), MOODOMETER (G3 WA Oaks), PARC D’AMOUR (SW Bletchley Park mare), RECOVERABLE (Dam of Accelarometer), SPIRIT LADY ( G3 WA Champion Fillies), STORMVIELLE (Dam of SW Vampi Lass), XAARISTIC (Dam of this season’s first Perth 2YO winner of Vital Art).
