Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Ascot: G1 Railway S., $1,500,000, 1600m
The progeny of Playing God - the horse Neville Parnham trained to two G1 Kingston Town Classic victories - have been rather good to him, especially this weekend with a win by Zipaway in the G2 WA Guineas followed by this elite-level success for Bustler.
A seven-time winner from 14 starts, Bustler was bred by Mungrup Stud and sold by Ruby Racing and Breeding to Ridgeport Holdings for $130,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
One of the 16 stakes winners (and the second Group 1 winner) for his Darling View Thoroughbreds-based sire, Bustler is the first foal for the three-time winner Cosmah Domination (Oratorio) whose second foal A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) is also showing plenty of potential - winning three city races and finishing second to Zipaway in the WA Guineas.
Slipping last spring to Playing God having foaled a filly by him, Cosmah Domination has a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old filly by Maschino.
Cosmah Domination is one of the six winners for the placed Mia Myth (Don't Say Halo {USA}) who also produced the stakes-placed Amelia Storm (Stormy's Son) and three other city winners.
Members of this family include the New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Kate's Myth (Kaoru Star) and her daughter, the South African Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Mythical Play (NZ) (Defensive Play {USA}).
Bustler's damsire Oratorio is a son of Stravinsky (USA) who died this week in Japan, aged 27.
G2 WA Guineas, $500,000, 1600m
This was a real Neville Parnham victory - not only does he train Zipaway (Playing God), but he also trained his sire (winner of this same race in 2021) and his Bunbury maiden-winning dam Boutique (Discorsi).
Bred by him and Carolyn Parnham, Zipaway appreciated the step up to 1600 metres as he recorded his first stakes level victory and this third win from seven starts.
The 16th stakes winner for his Darling View Thoroughbreds-based sire, he is the second foal for his city-placed dam whose first foal (also bred and trained by Parnham) Fashion Stakes (Playing God) won a Belmont maiden in June.
Only ever visiting Playing God, Boutique produced a colt last spring and her 2-year-old filly by him has been named Mainshow.
Boutique is one of the six winners for the stakes-placed dual city winner Brocky's Ace (Surtee), also dam of the G2 Sapphire S. and G3 Bright Shadow H. winner Quilista (Scandal Keeper) and the G3 Sir John Monash S. winner Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man).
This is also the family of the Group 1 winners India's Dream (Western Symphony {USA}), Xanadu (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) and Hasty Departure (NZ) (Red Anchor {NZ}).
Listed Carbine Club of WA S., $125,000, 1400m
Racing in great form, adding this success to his Listed Northam Cup win two starts back, Let's Galahvant (Galah) was strong to the line recording his 10th win from 33 starts.
Bred by Rangeview Stud and sold by them to Pearce Racing for $10,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 2), he is the sole stakes winner for his sire, a dual Group-winning son of Redoute's Choice.
His dam is the placed mare Secret Crush (So Secret) who has also produced by Galah the winners Gallant Ranger, Bush Icon and Yourtheoneforme.
A mare who has not had a great deal of luck in recent times - slipping last spring to Wandjina and losing her previous two foals by Royal Meeting (Ire) and Long Leaf, Secret Crush is out of the Group 3-placed Graceton (Fimiston) - also dam of the triple Listed winner Keyton Grace (Key Business) and the dual Listed winner Shock Value (Key Business).
Bred on a 3 X 4 cross of Danehill (USA) via Redoute's Choice and Danetime (Ire), Let's Galahvant also carries a cross of the classy broodmare Courtesy (USA) (Nasrullah {Ire}) via her descendant Forty Niner (USA) and son Dignitas (USA).
Listed AJ Scahill Cup, $125,000, 2100m
Atoning for an unlucky run in the Listed Luckygray S. last time out, the Listed Kalgoorlie Cup winner Be Optimistic (Blackfriars) was into clear air in this race - and just too strong.
One of the 48 stakes winners for his late sire (also sire of the third placegetter Black Fantasy), Be Optimistic was bred by Scenic Lodge and sold by them to Peter and Luke Fernie for $36,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 2).
He is the only foal (she died a few months after producing him) for the unraced Mekie's Dream (Pluck {USA}) whose winning dam Mrs Post (Carnegie {Ire}) produced four winners including the city winners Sharp Turn (Street Sense {USA}) and Byron (Dawn Approach {Ire}).
Mrs Post is a daughter of the four-time Group 1 winner Mannerism (Amyntor {Fr}) whose 10 foals to race were all winners including the Group winners Dandify (Danehill {USA}) and Manner Hill (Danehill {USA}).
Most famous for her G1 Caulfield Cup victory over Veandercross (NZ) (Crossways {GB}), Mannerism is also third dam of the G3 Toy Show H. winner Fituese (Deep Field) and she is a descendant of the acclaimed matriarch Teppo (GB) (Ladas {GB}).
Cranbourne: Listed Cranbourne Cup, $500,000, 1600m
Appreciating a drop in class having contested the G1 Toorak H. at his previous start, Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) was suited by a strong pace - able to finish all over the time of his rivals.
Bred by B E Moore, he has made his way through the sales ring on three occasions - fetching 11,000gns (AU$21,100) to the bid of McCann Bloodstock at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale before being sold to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 3000gns (AU$6000) at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
And, after showing promise (winning at Listed level), fetching a lot more when purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for 130,000gns (AU$261,300) at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
One of the two stakes winners for his sire, a G1 Middle Park S. winner for Godolphin, Charterhouse is out of the three-time winner Crocus Rose (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), half-sister to the G3 Lancashire Oaks winner Ela Athena (GB) (Ezzoud {Ire}) who produced the dual Group winner Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}).
Charterhouse is a descendant of the high-class broodmare Malva (GB) (Charles O'Malley {GB}), best known as the dam of the G1 Epsom Derby-winning successful stallion Blenheim (GB).
