The Playing God connection paid off once again for Yarradale Stud when Sister Mary made the most of a drop in class to win the Western Racepix Hcp (1800m) at Pinjarra on Wednesday.

Sister Mary had won a Northam maiden over 2200m in June prior to an unplaced run in the LR Belmont Oaks (2400m) earlier this month.  She was caught behind a wall of horses yesterday before sprinting through a gap to score by a half-length from Hot Like Chili (Gingerbread Man).

The 3yo grey filly is a Yarradale Stud-bred graduate having been purchased by trainer Paul Jordan for $42,500 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions for a partnership managed by his wife Laura.  “She has a heart of gold and is really easy to get along with,” Laura said.  “If she pulls up well we will go again but she’s still a baby and will come back much better next prep.”

Winning jockey Lisa Staples reiterated those comments after weighting in.  “We were held up in a tight spot in the straight and all she needed was some room to let down and fly home.”

Sister Mary is the fourth winner from four to race from Northam winner City Magic (Bletchley Park) and her final foal is another (yearling) filly by Playing God.  Her full-sister Happy Realm was a Malaysian black-type winner and second-dam Lucy Tudor (Statoblest) is a half-sister to Listed winners Trotanoy (NZ Canterbury Belle Stakes), Monarch Star (VRC Maribyrnong Trial) and Silver Stardom (Gosford Slipper).

Yarradale purchased shares in Playing God when he was sold to Darling View Thoroughbreds in 2020 and the best of their winners by the WA Champion sire has been Venetian Storm in the LR Raconteur Stakes (1400m) at Belmont last month.

Playing God completed a double in the last race at Pinjarra with God’s Gate and Yarradale had opened the meeting with Luka Magic who is a son of resident sire Gingerbread Man.  The Tiarnna Noske-trained gelding was stepping up to 2200m for the first time at his fifth start in the GJD Security Maiden.

Bred on the same Gingerbread Man - Soldier's Tale cross as Neurological (LR Farnley Stakes) and Essential Spice (LR Beaufine Stakes), he’s the final foal from Gunpowder Grey who was a Yarradale-bred half-sister to G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner De Lago Mist (Encosta De Lago).

Gingerbread Man has an excellent strike-rate at home and abroad with seven winners in the last fortnight: Luka Magic (Pinjarra), Hanselle (Belmont), I Love Ya Money (Northam), Olympia (Malaysia), Perfectday (Hong Kong), Hit the Jackpot (Port Hedland) and You Can Call Me Al (Pinjarra).

Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) and Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) stand at Yarradale for $5,500 (inc GST) service fees this year.

Hoofnote:  Bricini (3f I'm All The Talk - Beffunjar by Blackfriars), a Darling View-bred filly who is from a three-quarter sister to Sister Mary, caused a boilover in the opening race at Northam on Thursday when saluting at $71 in the Afgri Combines Hcp (1000m).

Sister Mary wins the Western Racepix Hcp (1800m) at Pinjarra / Photo: Western Racepix