Play Master scores satisfying stakes win

Saturday 11 July 2015, 6:06pm

Honest sprinter Play Master has provided Benalla trainer Peter Smith with a special win at Flemington.

Smith had not had a starter in a stakes race before Saturday but Play Master was up to the task in the Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final to score the 10th win of his career and continue a day of breakthrough stakes victories.

Earlier, Moe trainer Darryl Blackshaw claimed the A R Creswick Series Final with Illustrious Lad to notch his first stakes win while Ballarat trainer Colin Rees took out the Taj Rossi Series Final with Automatic Choice, the only horse he has in work.

Play Master is by Masterprint who Smith bought for $2000 to stand as a stallion.

Smith, a plumber by trade, has had city success with some of the progeny of Masterprint who died on Christmas Eve last year.

"He's a good little horse," Smith said of homebred Play Master.

"I've sort of given away plumbing and I'm now working with the horses full-time. Mainly thanks to this guy.

"He's helped me a lot."

Smith revealed Play Master might have also had some help from above after the death earlier this week of Barry Masuglia, the brother-in-law of the horse's strapper.

"My strapper and really good mate Gary Parkinson's brother-in-law died on Tuesday," Smith said.

"He had a heart attack and was on his last hour or so and said `have 50 dollars on Play Master for me', so I think that's got to be the biggest omen of all time."

Play Master stepped back up to 1200m on Saturday and settled off the speed before chiming in at the 400m.

He was strong to the line to win by a long neck over Lonrockstar who finished well from back in the field with Hard Romp another 1-1/4 lengths away third.

– AAP

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