Mungrup Stud freshman Playing God jumped the gun when the first 2yo trials of the season were conducted at Belmont on Monday morning.
His colts Wakan Tanka and Platoon sprinted straight to the lead and were both held together for impressive wins over 400m. The stablemates are trained by Neville Parnham who prepared Playing God to Group 1 victories in the 2010 and 2011 Kingston Town Classics.
Wakan Tanka was bred and sold by Mungrup Stud to Colin Loxton for $38,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February. His dam Horrorvism (Oratorio) is an unraced half-sister to four Perth winners including LR Jungle Mist Classic placegetter Sweet Serenity.
Loxton campaigned Playing God with Parnham for 8 wins from 1100m to 1800m and earnings over $1.67 million. He was also placed at Group 1 level behind Black Caviar and Shocking at Flemington.
Platoon races for a syndicate that includes Parnham, his wife Carol and Loxton. He was also bred by Mungrup on the same Playing God – Oratorio cross and sold for $26,000 at the Perth Magic Millions.
His dam Oriel only went as far as a Kalgoorlie maiden win for Lex & Shirley Piper. She is a half-sister to Lock The Vault who won races in Perth (Magic Millions 2yo Classic) and Hong Kong (LR Sha Tin Vase).
Playing God can kick-start his stud career when Perth's juvenile season commences with the Initial Plate (1000m) at Belmont on September 30. He is a son of Champion WA sire Blackfriars (Danehill) and stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee at Mungrup Stud.