Debutante The Playwright has provided a bright spot in a tough week for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, putting her hat in the ring for a Magic Millions tilt with a game win at Rosehill.
The stable lost Breeders’ Plate winner King Kirk in a drowning accident at Randwick on Tuesday and Bott said it had affected everyone at Tulloch Lodge.
“No doubt. Losing the Magic Millions favourite has been tough on everyone, all the staff and everyone involved and everyone who has had any connection with him, none more so than the owners,” Bott said.
The Playwright ($13) gave the team something to smile about, sharing the mid-race lead and showing tremendous tenacity to kick in the straight, denying the challenges of several rivals to score by a long head over the fast-finishing Icarian Dream ($2.90 fav) with Fermoy ($9) also warming up late, another half-neck away.
Bott said The Playwright had shown good ability at home and in her two barrier trials, but most importantly had continued to progress.
“She has shown tremendous improvement throughout the preparation,” Bott said.
“The improvement we saw from her first trial to her second was very encouraging and I thought, late in that trial she floated around but every time they challenged her, she responded and that is exactly what we saw today.
“She sustained a bit of pressure throughout the race, and she kept kicking. She was there to be beaten but she kept finding.”
A $60,000 buy, The Playwright is by 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By and Bott says she will be aimed towards the rich Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January.
She will be given another run before then, most likely at the end of December.
“Most certainly, she will be among the nominations,” he said.
“There are a couple of races at the end of December we can look at. There is the Wyong Magic Millions race, that may come up a bit quick. We will just let her get over today and she will need another run so we will make an assessment.”
Ridden by Regan Bayliss, The Playwright is a full brother to the promising Manuscript, also trained by Waterhouse and Bott and a strong winner at Wyong last month.
Bayliss said the filly reminded him of Inglis Millennium winner Fully Lit.
“She actually gave me a very similar feel to when I won on Fully Lit on debut,” Bayliss said.
“There was plenty to like about that win and when they are winning on debut at this time of the year, it’s an indication they go better than most.”
