Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Race-Day Recap
Beaten 0.5l by superstar filly Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) on this day last year in the G2 WA Guineas, Bustler (Playing God) stamped his authority as a star of Western Australian racing, saluting in the G1 Railway S.
Zipaway (Playing God) executed a perfect plan for trainer Neville Parnham, outlasting A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) and Super Smink (Super One) in a riveting finish to the G2 WA Guineas.
Consistent gelding Let’s Galahvant (Galah) achieved a career-best performance at Ascot on Saturday, turning the tables on Magnificent Andy (Magnus) in a thrilling finish to the G3 Carbine Club S
In the concluding breaths of a spring that has not completely gone to plan for Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) reminded the racing community how good he is, scoring a statement victory in The Gong at Kembla Grange.
The Te Akau Racing-owned Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) won her eighth race when successful in Saturday’s G3 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
It didn’t take long for the Tony Gollan-trained Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) to strike the winner's circle. The 5-year-old mare took out the Listed Eureka Stud Classic on Saturday, ridden by Ryan Maloney.
Bustler wins Railway
Beaten 0.5l by superstar filly Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) on this day last year in the G2 WA Guineas, Bustler (Playing God) stamped his authority as a star of Western Australian racing, saluting in the G1 Railway S.
Providing Neville Parnham with an incredible three of the five features on the program, the talented gelding found a gap and let down superbly to give Parnham his first ever Railway, just about the only race to elude him in his illustrious training career.
Towing race favourite Alsephina (Star Turn) into the race, it was a burst of acceleration approaching the 200-metre mark that won the race, leaving his rivals behind and giving Steven Parnham a moment to savour. Alsephina lost no admirers, encountering traffic issues as Marocchino (Maschino) attempted to contain the speed, before letting down to give chase to the eventual winner.
Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) continued his strong form with a third-placed finish, while defending champion Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}) elevated off previous performances to claim fourth.
There wasn’t much joy for the visiting party, with Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}), Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) and Roots (Press Statement) unable to have an impact on the end result.
Neville and Steven Parnham after winning the G1 Railway S. at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Playing God is now a two-time Group 1-producing stallion, having also seen top-level success with Kay Cee in the 2019 G1 Kingston Town Classic (now Northerly S.). In perfect synergy, Playing God, as well as his two Group 1 winners, have all been trained by Neville Parnham. Bustler’s dam, Cosmah Domination (Oratorio) was narrowly denied a feature double herself, with A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) narrowly denied in the WA Guineas less than 35 minutes prior.
Zip, Good and Smirk fight out Guineas
Zipaway (Playing God) executed a perfect plan for trainer Neville Parnham, outlasting A Lot Of Good Men and Super Smink (Super One) in a riveting finish to the G2 WA Guineas.
Positioned nicely by Neville’s oldest son, Steven Parnham, the smart gelding was there to be beaten in the concluding strides. In emotional post-race scenes, a teary Steven Parnham embraced his family, elated to deliver a perfect familial result.
As well as being the master behind the success of Playing God on the track, the Parnham patriach also trained the dam Boutique (Discorsi) when she was in work, a mare that he kept handy for her breeding value.
The end result is Zipaway, a horse that has progressed exponentially from breaking his maiden at Belmont Park in September to claiming the most prestigious middle-distance race for the 3-year-old crop of the day.
Veteran jockey Paul Harvey got close aboard A Lot Of Good Men, a late dive unable to distract Steven Parnham from a celebratory gesture as he crossed the line. Star filly Super Smink was a game third, beaten on her merits but never giving up the fight.
Playing God | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
Post-race, the G1 Northerly S. in a fortnight was floated as a possible option, a race that he would carry just 52 kilograms in. The favourite on race morning, Keshi Boom (Spirit Of Boom) was a withdrawal, with co-trainer Grant Williams concerned over how his talented filly would handle the warm weather.
No galavanting around in the Carbine Club
Consistent gelding Let’s Galahvant (Galah) achieved a career-best performance at Ascot on Saturday, turning the tables on Magnificent Andy (Magnus) in a thrilling finish to the Listed Carbine Club of WA S.
Positioned ideally behind a genuine speed, jockey Chris Parnham extracted his mount at the perfect time, and he responded to the challenge, sticking his head down at the perfect time to claim glory.
In an extreme case of sibling rivalry, Brad Parnham was the jockey trying to spoil the party aboard Magnificent Andy, the Listed Hannans H. winner who attempted to uphold the finishing order of that race, where he denied Let’s Galahvant successive wins in the Kalgoorlie feature.
The returning Vast Art (Flying Artie) was a strong closer in third, signaling his intention for a campaign that may afford him a shot at the G1 Northerly S. in two weeks' time.
Chris Parnham returns to scale aboard Let’s Galahvant after winning the Listed Carbine Club of WA S. at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Let’s Galahvant is out of So Secret mare Secret Crush, who has an unblemished record as a producer, with four foals to race all recording wins. He is the sole stakes winner for his stallion Galah, and cost only $10,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale out of the draft of Rangeview Stud.
Jack strikes in The Gong
In the concluding breaths of a spring that has not completely gone to plan for Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) reminded the racing community how good he is, scoring a statement victory in The Gong at Kembla Grange.
Ridden confidently by Jason Collett, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gelding enjoyed a nice passage into the home straight, and when confronted with the task at hand, responded with a sizzling turn of foot. The final margin of 2.3l could have been significantly greater, with Collett quite content to sit and enjoy the victory in the concluding strides.
He is out of Red Delicious (NZ), a daughter of No Excuses Needed (GB), and was bred by Prima Park in New Zealand. Used sparingly (Saturday was start number 15 for the 5-year-old), he has yet to win a black-type race, but did place third in the G1 South Australian Derby as a 3-year-old.
Saturday’s success takes him well past the $1 million in prizemoney, his cheque for winning worth $580,000.
Ciaron Maher and Jason Collett | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Kris Lees-trained Loch Eagle (Lonhro) took second ahead of Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), who held down third.
Rosa back with a bang
It didn’t take long for the Tony Gollan-trained Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) to strike the winner's circle. The 5-year-old mare was fourth in the Listed Keith Noud Quality at Doomben over 1200 metres. Returning to track and distance in the Listed Eureka Stud Classic on Saturday, ridden by Ryan Maloney, Comrade Rosa was a 1l victress over Better Get Set (Better Than Ready) and her last start-conqueror Extremist (Extreme Choice).
Comrade Rosa hails from an extensive black-type family. Her dam No Looking Back (Redoute’s Choice) won the Listed Carrington S. and was placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. while her grandam Mirror Mirror (Dehere {USA}) scored the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Listed Gimcrack S.
Comrade Rosa’s other star relations include the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Aloha (Encosta De Lago) and her star daughter the late Libertini (I Am Invincible), who won the G1 Premiere S., the G2 Silver Shadow S. and the G2 Furious S.
Libertini was also placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 William Reid S. her full brother Hawaii Five Oh has shown oodles of ability in his short career to date, winning the G3 Fred Best Classic and the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and placed in the G1 Stradbroke H.
Comrade Rosa was a $100,000 purchase by Peachester Lodge from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Classy Campionessa strikes
A bravehearted ride by Matthew Cameron saw Te Akau Racing’s 6-year-old mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) get up in the nick of time to win the G3 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained mare defeated Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) and Malt Time (Adelaide {Ire}). Campionessa has now won eight races from 1200 to 2500 metres and was placed in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. and the G1 New Zealand S.
She is from the three-time winner Bella Carolina (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who in addition to Campionessa has produced the Listed winner Leedox (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) and Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) a fourth finisher in the G1 Diamond S.
Campionessa failed to meet her reserve of NZ$70,000 when offered by Mapperley Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Westbury Stud reoffered her at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale where David Ellis paid $60,000.
Her half-brother, an unnamed colt by Per Incanto (USA), was offered by Mapperley Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and was purchased for $320,000 by the Rosemont Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Lindsay Park Racing.
