Simon Miller has maintained from day one that his Playing God three year old West Star is a horse with “x-factor” and the gelding proved it yesterday with an absolutely dominant win in the G3 Northam Stakes.
The Provincial sprint run over 1300m at the Avon Valley's major racecourse in Northam always attracts a cracking field, and this year's edition was no exception with a field of 15 quality runners.
West Star was coming off a Quokka run marred by a bumping duel with rival The Boss Lady whom he met again here. Quokka fourth Magnificent Andy (Magnus) and Joey placegetters Laced Up Heels (Toronado) and Yonga Lass (Universal Ruler) were in good form while Saloon Bar (Sessions) and Comfort Me (Playing God) also had their supporters - but it was West Star sent to post as hot favourite.
Star hoop Lucy Fiore made the dash back from Adelaide where she had partnered Miller’s excellent mare Generosity to a gallant fifth In The Goodwood, to take the reins on West Star. It was Fiore's first ride on the horse who was the only three year old in the field.
From his tricky barrier 12 West Star had to race wide without cover all the way, but it made no difference in the end - Fiore tactfully nursing the big horse until giving him the signal to go - whereupon he unleashed a devastating turn of foot and quickly put paid to the opposition by almost two lengths.
6YO Magnificent Andy continued in his rich vein of form with another great run to take second place while Comfort Me, who had raced on the hot speed stuck on gamely for third, and Saloon Bar produced a good finish to wind up in fourth place just ahead of The Boss Lady.
West Star now boasts five wins and two placings from his eight starts, and this was the three year old's first Group victory having previously won the Listed Belgravia Stakes last spring.
His career earnings now stand at $701,920.
Miller's stable Foreman Kelly Kinninmont intimated after the race that the best of the exciting galloper might be seen over further.
“It’s very exciting and possibly he will get out further. Simon’s instructions were, that he wanted to teach him something today. Let him relax, let him work his way into it.”
Lucy Fiore was taken with West Star's performance after her first ride on the progressive galloper.
“He's a lovely horse, and we definitely won that on class alone” she enthused.
“He's a leggy horse, he was able to freeroll and come off in the middle. I tried to stay still for as long as I possibly could, but when I said go at the 250m he put them away. It was a really impressive win.”
The trainer has since suggested that both West Star and Generosity are likely to be seen in Melbourne later in the year.
A $175,000 buy for Miller from the Western Breeders Alliance draft at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, West Star was bred by Clive Atwell and is the best of two winners from four to race for the winning Patronize mare Jester Derriere, a sister to stakes-placed Jestpatim, and a half-sister to the Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic and Listed Perth Stakes winner The River (Magnus), and a half to stakes-placed Soundcheck (Your Song).
His third dam Larceny Lady by Magic Of Money (Last Tycoon x Kaoru Star) was an unplaced full sister to the durable stakes winning sprinter Vizard (11 wins, Beaufine Stakes, Belmont Newmarket) and half to Le Perancis who placed in a Belmont Guineas.
His second dam Jestceny is by speedster Real Jester, a grandson of a Biscay mare and through his sire Rory's Jester he brings in a line to Star Kingdom daughter Dark Jewel.
Notably Real Jester is also the broodmare sire of Playing God's Group winning Sprinter Rope Them In.
West Star's fourth dam the speedy Tickle the Till was by the good sire Corporate Raider (Biscay x Vain) with another line of Star Kingdom through Todman.
This all nicks beautifully with Playing God's dam Dolly Will Do and her lines to Star Kingdom daughters - the champion Ritmar, and her own ancestress Star Empress; to Todman, and to Vain.
Additionally,West Star is bred to Danehill 3m x 4m and his damsire Patronize is a three quarter brother to breed shaping champion Exceed And Excel.
Now pensioned, the Darling View resident and son of mighty Redoute's Choice has been a quality and consistent sire and his very first winner was the stakes placed sprinter Jespatim, the full brother to West Star's dam Jester Derriere.
West Star is the final foal of Jester Derriere, who has been retired.
She certainly saved her best for last!
West Star is one of seven stakes-winners this season for Playing God who has a seasonal winner to runner strike rate of nearly 50%.
The Darling View Thoroughbreds resident has covered 100 plus books of mares in his past four seasons and will no doubt be the top choice for WA breeders again this spring.
