The WA Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Ex Sport Man overcame a slow start to score a thrilling win in a driving finish to Saturday's $500,000 Group II Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot.
A pickup ride for Troy Turner following an injury to Shaun Mc Gruddy during the week, the Steve Wolfe-trained son of Playing God came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the Listed Supremacy Stales winner Liwa (Mulaazem) by a head with Pat's Got Sass (Patronize) a long-head back in third.
"He was always the best two-year-old in the state, and he proved that clearly today," Wolfe said.
"It didn't worry me (that he was slow out) because, in 50 metres, he was up closer than he has been recently.
'All he needed was clear running, and he cut them down because he is a cut above them.
"He has not been any different from day one. That is why I think he is so exceptional. He doesn't worry about anything else. He just gets the job done.
"We couldn't be any prouder of him."
A $40,000 purchase by Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) out of the Mungrup Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Ex Sport Man advanced his record to two wins and two seconds from five starts with earnings of $488,946.
Ex Sport Man is the first live foal of the hard-knocking
Oratorio (AUS) mare Buhn Lert who won eight and placed in three of her 48 starts with earnings of $128,622.
Buhn Lert is a daughter of the Kenvain mare Lady Iconic, a half-sister to the dual Listed stakes-winner Lady Icon (O'Conner).
Buhn Lert has a yearling filly by the Tapit stallion a Lot (USA) and was covered by the Willaview Park stallion again last spring.
Ex Sport Man becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Playing God, who was purchased by Darling View Thoroughbreds last year following Mungrup Stud's closure.
The dual Group 1 winning son of Blackfriars covered a career-high 96 mares last spring despite having his service fee increased to $13,200.
