Ron Sayers was a mining industry leader in the Goldfields as the founder of Ausdrill and he was also a legend in the racing and breeding industries at Yarradale Stud in Gidgegannup.

The farm was bursting with breeding stock back in the day and the stud’s stallions included the USA shuttlers Frost Giant (Giant’s Causeway) and War Chant (Danzig) who sired G1 MVRC William Reid Stakes winner Silent Sedition in his first southern book.

Scandal Keeper was another USA-bred son of breed-shaping sire Danzig to stand at Yarradale along with Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) who has been a fixture on the roster since 2013.

Sayers also left a successful legacy two years before his death when Playing God came on the market during the dispersal of Mungrup Stud in August 2020.  He stood at an $11,000 fee for his final season in the Great Southern and is now fully-booked every year for a fee of $49,500.

“Ron purchased a quarter share in Playing God when he transferred from Mungrup to Darling View Thoroughbreds,” stud manager Davy Hanratty recalled this week.  “It’s the best deal he ever sealed for Yarradale.”

Playing God’s current foal crop jumped the gun at Yarradale this season with a colt from Burgoyne and a filly from Dainty Tess arriving in the first week of August.  Both mares are by War Chant (USA) and that cross is headed by Baby Paris (LR Jungle Dawn Classic & LR Jungle Mist Classic).

Burgoyne foaled LR Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) winner Cashel Palace (Street Boss) first-up and her second Elite Beau (Brazen Beau) had excuses when a beaten favourite in the Placid Ark Prelude (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Stewards reported Elite Beau cast an off-hind plate after shifting outwards from the barriers and bumping another runner.  The China Horse Club 3yo holds a Listed entry into the $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 15.

“The colt is exactly what you would expect from this proven cross,” Hanratty added.  “Good looks, plenty of scope coupled with nice movement and a great nature.  It was a no brainer to send her back to the champion sire again.”

Dainty Tess earned $1.11 million in a career highlighted by dual Group 3 victories in the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1100m) at Ascot and she also won at that level in the R N Irwin Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

“It wasn’t just Friday Night Footy that took centre stage last night,” Hanratty posted on August 2.  “Dainty Tess blessed us in the early hours with a gorgeous filly by Playing God and her yearling filly by Playing God will be a show-stopper at the Swan Valley in February.”

Dainty Tess went back to Playing God and other Yarradale mares by War Chant also making the trip from Gidgegannup down to Darling View at Mundijong include Super Stardom and War Of Whispers.

Super Stardom completed a running double in Ascot nurseries for Neville Parnham and her Playing God colt sold for $400,000 out of the Yarradale draft at this year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale.  He was purchased by Pearce Racing and has been named Star God.

War Of Whispers is a winning daughter of Dawson Stud blue-hen Most Secret (Bletchley Park) and is a younger half-sister to Covertly (G1 Railway Stakes), Crack The Code (G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes), So Secret (G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes) and Secret Link (LR December Stakes).

The best of the War Of Whispers stock to date is Wubin Gold (Shooting To Win) who has won 6 of her 15 starts for earnings of $311,000 for trainer Colin Webster and a partnership that includes Yarradale owner Lyn Sayers.

Hanratty reckons her Playing God colt will be one of the highlights out of the Yarradale consignment to the Perth Magic Millions in February 2026.

“We are also capitalising on that cross with Habenera.  Her first foal Berbere (Gingerbread Man) won three races at Belmont last year and she has since built up quite a love affair with Playing God.  She has a beautiful yearling filly going to the February Sale along with a ripper colt at foot and she recently visited the champ again.

Yarradale Stud is standing Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) and Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) for $5,500 fees (inc GST) this season.   For all enquiries contact Davy Hanratty (0429 336 904).

War Chant mare Burgoyne pictured with her Playing God colt at Yarradale in August