Cover image courtesy of Darling View Thoroughbreds
Playing God was to be WA's highest-price stallion in 2020 when Mungrup announced a fee rise to $16,500 (inc GST) this season off the back of his second-crop filly Kay Cee winning the G1 Kingston Town Classic last December.
When it was confirmed that a new home would need to be found for Mungrup's four stallions, a mad scramble began amongst the other WA studs, and even a few interstate, to secure Playing God as a headline act.
"When the news hit that Mungrup were going to be closing their doors, it was sad for the WA Industry here, but obviously it was a good opportunity for the farms over here to secure a horse like that," Darling View Stud Manager Brent Atwell told TDN AusNZ.
"The interest was huge throughout the state and I believe there was a bid from Victoria as well, but by Tuesday night, we had the deal done."
"The interest was huge throughout the state and I believe there was a bid from Victoria as well." - Brent Atwell
That an agreement was reached within four days of Mungrup announcing that it would cease operation after 40 years speaks volumes for the ambition of the Atwell family, who already stand Lucky Street and Patronize at Darling View, which is located at Mundijong, on the outskirts of Perth.
Patronize | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
"It came down to a bit of back and forth negotiation and we are very happy. It's a big step for us and a big opportunity we couldn't miss," he said.
"We wanted to really take the farm to the next level, so to do that, we had to secure a horse like this. Everyone is chasing the next boom stallion and trying to get hold of a new horse off the track. But this guy has already proven himself and so it was too good an opportunity to miss."
On the track, Playing God has produced 31 winners, highlighted by the Neville Parnham-trained Kay Cee, who has Listed victories in the Burgess Queen S. and last Saturday's Raconteur S. to go with her Group 1 win. Lordhelpmerun won a G3 WA Sires' Produce S., while Platoon won a Listed JC Robert S. and was placed in the G1 Railway S.
Kay Cee
His progeny in the sales ring have also grown in popularity and his top lot reached $150,000 at this year's Magic Millions Perth Sale, while his 2019 book of 88 mares was the largest of his six years at Mungrup.
Atwell feels the son of Blackfriars is well-poised to continue that momentum through his 350km move from Mungrup to Darling View.
"He's got two really good books still to come. He covered nearly 90 mares last year, which are really good numbers for WA. He is a really progressive stallion, as are his stock," he said.
"Speaking to trainers like Neville Parnham, who trained Playing God himself, he believes they just get better as they train on."
2020 fee to be reviewed
Atwell said Playing God's new service fee would be confirmed in the coming days, but he expected that it would be slightly reduced to reflect the new reality of a COVID-19 world.
"He was announced at $16,500 (inc GST) at Mungrup, and we will probably look to reduce that slightly. With everything going on around COVID, we will consider everything and look to get a good amount of bookings to the horse," he said.
"We will consider everything and look to get a good amount of bookings to the horse." - Brent Atwell
"There were already a good amount of bookings before we even did the deal. Mungrup had already taken bookings from some time ago. I believe that will carry on. The horse will be heavily supported by us and we are possibly looking to put a couple of partners in the horse."
Playing God | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
Darling View has around 35 broodmares of its own, some of which will head to Playing God, while it is considering which of its top quality band of 10 or so in the Hunter Valley it will bring back to the new stallion.
Playing God himself is expected to arrive in the next week and Atwell is expecting the new acquisition to adapt well to his new surroundings.
"Talking to Gray and Jan at Mungrup, they have had a lot of stallions on the farm over 40 years. They say his stock are the easiest they have had to work with," he said.
"All reports from trainers are the same, they have great temperaments as he does himself. He is a delight to work with. We look forward to having him here with us alongside Lucky Street and Patronize."
Lucky Street | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
Mungrup's absence to be felt in WA
Atwell doesn’t see Mungrup's sudden departure from the WA breeding scene as necessarily a symptom of wider issues in the industry but says their absence will be felt.
"It's definitely tough for the industry as Mungrup breed a lot of horses and whether they go through our yearling sales or directly to trainers and private sale. There is going to be a massive loss, which is concerning, for our racing numbers," he said.
"There is going to be a massive loss, which is concerning, for our racing numbers." - Brent Atwell
The Mungrup Stud online dispersal sale of 72 weanlings, 85 broodmares, as well as yearlings and 2-year-olds, will be conducted by Magic Millions in August, while Oratorio, I’m All The Talk, and A Lot (USA) are expected to find new homes in the next week or two.
Clive Atwell, Jane and Phil Ibbotson and Brent Atwell | Image courtesy of Darling View Thoroughbreds
"But as far as the industry goes, before COVID-19 hit we had our best sale in 10 years and the confidence around the industry is great. The bonus schemes have improved and the money is good. I still believe that with WA, pound for pound, in terms of returns, there is no better place in Australia to race," Atwell said.
"There is always a bit of anxiety around where we will be after this COVID-era, but at the end of the day, the demand will be there for horses. We’ve got to race them, trainers have got to train, so the demand for horses won't disappear. It's just a matter of what level we all come out of it.
"We are more than confident that a horse like Playing God will be able to achieve what he deserves to in terms of numbers and what he is currently achieving on the racecourse."
