Two-year-old filly The Playwright put on a show with a gutsy debut win and earns a shot at the Magic Millions

A week that started in tragic circumstances ended on a brighter note for Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and the Tulloch Lodge team when The Playwright scored gutsy debut win at Rosehill.

The Playwright fights hard to score a debut win at Rosehill. Picture: Bradley Photos

Speedy filly The Playwright gave Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott reason to put behind them a turbulent and tragic week with an impressive debut win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Playwright was put under pressure in front throughout but fought hard to score a deserved win in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m).

Bott said The Playwright’s win will be a boost to stable staff morale after Breeders Plate winner and early Golden Slipper favourite King Kirk accidentally drowned in a freak accident in the Randwick equine pool earlier this week.

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“Losing King Kirk 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.

King Kirk was being prepared for the $3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 which will now be the aim for The Playwright after she got her race career off to the perfect start.

“The Playwright will most certainly be among our nominations for the Magic Millions,” Bott said.

“There are a couple of races at the end of December we can look at as a lead-up run. There is the Wyong Magic Millions race (December 11) but 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.”

Bott said Tempestuous, who finished a close second to the ill-fated King Kirk in the Breeders Plate, is probably the stable’s number one seed for the Magic Millions.

“Tempestuous trialled well the other day and he could be a Wyong Magic Millions type,” Bott said.

“He is still a pretty neat style of horse but he has put on a little bit of weight. He looks strong and well within himself. He didn’t have long out so he will be pretty forward.

The Playwright fights to take the first at Rosehill at her first start!@GaiWaterhouse1 | @Reganbayliss | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/RQwQWaYoMS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

“There are a couple of other colts that trialled there the other day and a bit like her (The Playwright) will step out shortly and we’ll see they stack up.”

The Playwright ($13) held off the late surge of favourite Icarian Dream ($2.90) to win by a long head with Fermoy ($9) running on for third, a half neck away with Gallo Nero a close fourth.

A $60,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase, The Playwright (Written By-Sugarparma) continued the winning run of syndicator James Moss’ Tricolours Racing with their fourth Saturday winner in five weeks.

Moss also races Manuscript, a full brother to The Playwright and an impressive winner at Wyong when resuming three weeks ago.

“The last couple of years we have trained a couple of nice types for James and Tricolours including The Novelist who was great last week,” Bott said.

“James has gone out and targeted a couple more two-year-old types he thought might suit the stable like this filly so he’s done a fantastic job.”

Top jockey Regan Bayliss said The Playwright gave him a “very similar feel” to Fully Lit, the brilliant Inglis Millennium winner last season.

"She kept finding"

Hear from Adrian Bott on The Playwright, who is Magic Millions bound after her win today!@GaiWaterhouse1 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/05CkGuU1lR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

“It was a good tough win,” Bayliss said. “She was driven mad by the horse that over raced outside us (Gallo Nero) throughout the race but she managed to still produce a good turn of foot.

“Then when they challenged her late she pinned the ears back and wouldn’t lie down.

“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.”

Bott said The Playwright has continued to progress with every gallop and barrier trial.

“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.

“She has switched on now, she knows what it’s all about. She is able to put herself in that position (on-speed) relatively easily today, she showed good tenacity and a nice turn of foot late.”

Originally published as Two-year-old filly The Playwright put on a show with a gutsy debut win and earns a shot at the Magic Millions