Neville Parnham capped off another good week with Playing God when Bruce Almighty broke through in the Glenroy Chaff Maiden (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Bruce Almighty (4g Playing God – Isanami by Tayasu Tsuyoshi) had been a frustrating conveyance in his previous 8 starts but Parnham believes he’s only just coming good. “He took time to mature and is getting better with age like most of the Playing Gods. He’s been working alright and has really trained on since getting nailed at Pinjarra last time.”
Bred by Mungrup Stud, Bruce Almighty is the penultimate foal of G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Isanami (Tayasu Tsuyoshi) and races for an Oz Racing syndicate managed by Bruce Saxild.
Parnham continued his wholehearted support of Playing God when buying 4 of his 10 yearlings offered during Book 2 of the Perth Magic Millions last Tuesday.
The Ascot trainer spent $368,500 for colts and fillies by the Mungrup Stud stallion over two sessions in the Swan Valley. He guided Playing God to dual victories in the G1 Kingston Town Classic and prepares his current Group 1 performers Kay Cee and Platoon.
Top of Parnham’s shopping list on Tuesday was the $140,000 Playing God – Reillyanne colt from Mungrup Stud. The dam is a NZ-bred daughter of O’Reilly and her only foal to race is Parnham’s recent Pinjarra winner Neat Action (Playing God).
“The Playing Gods are beautiful types,” Parnham said. “I loved the colt from Reillyanne. He really replicates Playing God.
“I was underbidder on the brother to Platoon and while there wasn’t a lot between them, I did actually think this one was the pick of his progeny.”
Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers bought the brother Platoon for $150,000 while fellow agent Noel Carter purchased Playing God colts from Correctable ($50,000) and Buhn Lert ($40,000) under the Commercial Bloodstock Services banner.
Carter was sitting with trainer Steve Wolfe who prepared Playing God gelding Lordhelpmerun to a Group 3 victory in the 2018 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“To see Playing God’s progeny so well received was fantastic,” Mungrup Stud’s Gray Williamson said. “It’s been a really fantastic sale. Not just for us but for the whole WA industry.”