It only seems fitting that the $250,000 Group III ATC Widden Stakes (1100m) should be won by the progeny of a Widden Stud based sire and on this occasion it was Written By that delivered the goods when his fast and professional filly The Playwright led all the way for a tenacious victory.
Tricolours Racing very nearly got to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2023 with speedy Written By colt The Novelist and this year they got to the big event with The Playwright, who ran a terrific race to finish fourth.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, The Playwright pulled up well from her Gold Coast trip away and with the addition of blinkers and an inside draw, Regan Bayliss was able to let the filly do her thing.
She quickly found the front and skipped clear down the running before holding on late to win by a head over the unlucky race favourite Tempted, who flew home from last to grab second with first start Snitzel Miss another head away in third.
Adrian Bott was thrilled The Playwright was able to capitalise on her fitness and race experience advantage to post a valuable Group win for her big group of owners.
“We’ll see how she comes through this one and it was certainly a race we wanted to get to and if it’s the last race of this preparation then she’s done a great job,” said Adrian Bott, who has had the filly in work since November.
“The way she is and the constitution she’s got I do feel she could keep going. We won this race last year with Lady of Camelot, who pushed on to a Blue Diamond and she’s among the acceptances, so whether we do that or look for something still in Sydney for her, but everything will be determined by how she pulls up.”
The Playwright was a modest $60,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase from Newhaven Park for Tricolours Racing & Syndications Pty Ltd and runs for an all ladies syndicate of owners with her four starts to date producing two wins and a placing with prizemoney topping $734,000.
Bred and sold by Newhaven Park, she is the fourth winner from four foals to race from Sugarparma, a stakes-placed Snitzel mare from the family of Group I winner Rubitano and stakes-winner Rubitoff.
Newhaven Park sold the yearling half-sister by Xtravagant to The Playwright at Magic Millions for $60,000 to Angela Davies Racing and Sugarparma produced a colt last spring by Xtravagant and is now in foal to Cool Aza Beel.
The Playwright is the fifth stakes-winner for Written By and the G1 winning son of Written Tycoon is well represented at upcoming sales with 14 for Inglis Classic.
