Darling View Thoroughbreds in Western Australia is home to the best stallion in the state and statistically one of the best in the country, while their two up and coming sires are poised to take WA racing into the future.
Playing God is a once in a lifetime stallion for WA, a homegrown hero that did his racing in the West, the best son of champion WA sire Blackfriars won back-to-back Group I WATC Kingston Classics and won over $1.6million.
Despite his impressive race record, Playing God has had to make his own success at stud covering modest books at fees of $6,600 and then just $4,400 in his first four seasons before his first runners started doing the talking.
Fast forward to the present and Playing God has covered 100 plus books in his past three seasons at ever increasing fees of $16,500, $27,500 and $33,000 with his fee this year set at $49,500.
Playing God runs at 70% winners to runners and has an impressive 9.2% SW to runner with 18 stakes-winners to his credit headed by Group I winners Kay Cee and Bustler and all of that has come from horses bred for a service fee of $13,200 or less!
“His stats are incredible,” said Brent Atwell of Darling View Thoroughbreds.
“It is going to be very interesting to see over the next few seasons if he can improve on what he has already done off the back of some really nice books of mares.
“Last season he covered the likes of Western Jewel (dam of G1 winner Western Empire), Across The Moon (dam of G3 winner Rocketing By), Admirable (dam of G1 winner Vega Magic and Cosmah Domination (dam of G1 winner Bustler).
“We are extremely fortunate to have a horse of his calibre on our farm.”
Playing God has also soared to new heights in the sale ring with 39 of his yearlings averaging $119,423 at Perth Magic Millions this year and he also achieved a new benchmark at that sale with his stunning filly from Cosmah Domination selling for $625,000 to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock.
The Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale next year will feature first crop yearlings by another young Darling View Thoroughbred sire in Splintex, who stands at a fee of $11,000.
A multiple Group II winning sprinter by champion sire Snitzel, Splintex comes from one of the hottest commercial female families in the country which includes not one, but two exciting young Hunter Valley based sires in Ozzmosis and Acrobat.
WA breeders have been quick to recognize the quality Splintex represents in terms of performance and pedigree.
“Splintex was well supported 1st and second season with 230 mares covered which is huge for WA,” said Atwell.
“His second book was super strong off the quality foals he was putting on the ground and he will be well represented in the Perth Magic Millions yearling sale in 2025.
“I had a good number of breeders tell me their best foal on the farm last season was a Splintex. They are very easy to pick and a lot like their sire, they look very precocious and have a very recognisable hind quarter.”
Darling View Thoroughbreds had the foresight to add a son of Zoustar to the roster last spring and in the 12months since Lightsaber arrived on the farm his sire has exploded to a dizzying new level of success.
Australia’s leading sire of winners and stakes-winners last season, Zoustar sired four Group I winners in 2023/2024 in Zougotcha, Joliestar, Climbing Star and Ozzmosis with his progeny lighting up the sale ring with seven yearlings selling for $1million or more in 2024.
Winner of the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stake sat two and the Group III MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude at three, Lightsaber was also fourth in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas to Anamoe and second in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas to Hitotsu proving his worth against the very best of his peers.
A striking individual from the family of legendary sire Fastnet Rock, Lightsaber proved an instant hit with breeders covering 100 mares in his debut season at a fee of $6,600 and remains at the same fee again this year.
“Lightsaber has his first foals being born and we are having some really good feedback from breeders,” said Atwell.
“He has let down into a very nice horse himself and I’m very happy with his foals. The have really good leg, strength through the should and hip and heads just like Lightsaber.
“Having the option of a son of Zoustar is very appealing to breeders and I have no doubt he will be the busiest 2nd season sire this season in WA.”
For more information on any of the Darling View Thoroughbreds sires contact Brent Atwell on 0408 648100
