Playing God mare Nunthorpe can join top-class horses like Catchy, Magnus, Sheidel and She’s Extreme who have carried the red and white checked colours of Dorrington Farm owner Robert Crabtree.
Nunthorpe has looked a black-type winner since a Cranbourne maiden victory last year. “We’ve always had a good opinion of her,” co-trainer Peter Moody said after that impressive debut on Xmas Eve. “She’s a lovely, big, scopey filly and has just taken a little bit of time.”
Moody reiterated those comments following Nunthorpe’s front-running victory (pictured) in the $130,000 Here For The Horses Hcp (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. She led home a WA quinella from Peters Investments homebred Frigid (Frosted).
“That was a well-judged ride by Jamie (Kah) taking her through the gears,” he said. “There’s a good-level Stakes win in the this mare.”
A likely target is the G3 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m) back at Caulfield on October 14. “She jumped well and was comfortable in the lead,” Kah reported. “She’s taken massive improvement since our win here three weeks ago. She has come on in the coat and I’m looking forward to the prep ahead.”
Crabtree had purchased Nunthorpe on the advice of Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy at the 2020 Mungrup Stud Dispersal. She topped that Sale among the new-season yearlings at $110,000.
Her dam Latoria (Oratorio) won a LR Summer Scorcher (1000m) at Ascot and is a half sister to Crabtree’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel. Now based at Willaview Park, Latoria has a yearling colt by A Lot (USA).
The renowned Playing God – Oratorio cross has produced 23 individual winners at 77% strike-rate led by Ex Sport Man (G2 Karrakatta Plate), Bustler (G3 Belmont Sprint) and Platoon (LR Cyril Flower Stakes).
Darling View Thoroughbreds stands Playing God for a $33,000 service fee alongside second-season sire Splintex ($11,000) and newcomer Lightsaber ($6,600). All fees (inc GST).
