Trainer Lou Luciani is hoping his Playing God filly Goddess Of Giving measures up to summer carnival ranks after she won against the odds at Belmont on Saturday.
Racing first-up since February, Goddess Of Giving (Photo / Western Racepix) dwelt at the start in the Montague Partners Hcp (1000m) and faced a stiff test coming out of the chute well behind the leader Work In Progress (Written Tycoon).
Angled wide in the straight by Jason Whiting, she paired off with Hang Glider (Flying Artie) and they hit the line locked together with the Playing God filly getting a bob in where it counted. “I thought she would be hard to beat in what was a tricky race today,” Luciani said. “She’s very smart although the slow getaway didn’t help.
“There’s another race with a Westspeed 3yo bonus in a fortnight and we’re after more rating points for the summer. Hopefully, she can go on with it.”
Whiting had partnered Goddess Of Giving to win the $125,000 Westspeed Platinum Sires Stakes (1200m) at Ascot last December and he was awake to her gate problems.
“We put on a barrier blanket at the trials and today and she stood there beautiful. But she’s a bit of a sticky beak looking across at the other horses and that meant we didn’t jump cleanly which you don’t want in a 1000m scamper.
“She’s a filly with above-average ability and is on the right track getting out to 1200m and 1400m”
Goddess Of Giving is a homebred for Gray Williamson (Mungrup Pty Ltd) and is the final foal from She’s Roy’s Gift (Due Sasso). Her older half-brother Private Dancer (Oratorio) won a LR Challenge Stakes for Trevor Andrews.
The Playing God cross with former Mungrup Stud sire Due Sasso (Scenic) has a 75% success rate. Due Sasso had to be put down earlier this year when a worsening arthritic complaint could no longer be managed.
Playing God (Blackfriars) stands for a State-high $33,000 service fee at Darling View Thoroughbreds and his Mundijong barn-mate Patronize sired Sunny Honey to win the Amelia Park Hcp (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.
Sunny Honey’s older full-brother and stablemate Silkinize doubled up for the family and trainer David Harrison in the Totally Workwear Hcp (1200m) at Broome on Sunday.
