Darling View Thoroughbreds has announced Playing God’s service fee will rise to a WA record $49,500 (inc GST) in 2024.

The news continues year-on-year increases since Playing God arrived at Mundijong in 2020 and he’s earned every one of them.  Stud manager Brent Atwell has actually been playing catch-up on the back of bigger black-type hauls every twelve months.

Atwell acknowledged the continued racetrack achievements of Playing God’s progeny prompted the latest upgrade from $33,000.  “They’ve had an amazing season dominating The Pinnacles and winning Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races,” Atwell told ANZ Bloodstock News.  “He’s had seven winners and five seconds in Stakes events this season.

“It’s been massive and I think it’s a pretty fair increase.  Last year, we only had a couple of mares go to Playing God from the Hunter Valley and Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree sent a mare over from Victoria.  They’ve all shown interest again this year.

“China Horse Club and Kingstar Farm are looking to breed to him this year as well.  I’ve had a good number of clients who have booked mares without a fee being announced as they just wanted to make sure they can get their mares to him.

“Admittedly, we’re in our own jurisdiction in WA but he’s striking at 10% Stakes winners to runners and he’s in good company with I Am Invincible and Snitzel sitting around the same mark.”

Atwell has also forecast Darling View and other WA breeders may consider offering some of the upcoming Playing God yearlings at Eastern States Sales. “We’ve had Magic Millions and Inglis put in offers to take a couple over and he’s covering mares now that have the profile to sell interstate.”

Playing God (Blackfriars) covered a career-high 144 mares in his tenth book last year.  His two barn-mates will remain unchanged this year – Splintex (Snitzel) is priced at $11,000 for his third book and Lightsaber (Zoustar) at $6,600 for his second.