Trainer Russell Stewart will resist the lure of a lucrative pay-day with Swear To God after the colt’s ultra-impressive debut at Ascot on Saturday.

The Playing God youngster won the Amelia Park Plate (1000m) with something in hand, however, he won’t back-up in the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) next Saturday.  “He’s a gun but a high-pressure race like that in seven days might flatten him,” Stewart said.  “We will look after him and hopefully he will be a carnival horse at the end of the year.”

The stable already has strong Karrakatta prospects with Street Parade (Lucky Street) who is on the third line of betting at $10 behind Amelia’s Jewel ($1.85) and Left The Building ($7).  “Street Parade is probably a better 2yo,” Stewart reasoned.   “But I think Swear To God will end up being a better horse.”

Stewart bought Swear To God’s dam Ora Miss (Oratorio) for $70,000 as a Valentine’s Day present for his wife Antonella at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.  “She did a suspensory and only had the one start but gave us this colt and her last foal is another colt by Playing God.  We were heartbroken when Ora Miss died.  It was a tragedy and we don’t have a filly to carry on the line.”

The Stewarts bred her final foal in partnership with Queenslea Park owners Alan & Helen Morton.  They also lease Chantorque (War Chant) from the Pingelly couple and she will be a valuable broodmare as a Listed winner of the 2020 Placid Ark Stakes.

Playing God (Blackfriars) stands at Darling View Thoroughbreds after a Group 1 winning career with trainer Neville Parnham.  “When I walk Swear To God past ‘Nifty’ of a morning, he swears the colt is the spitting image of Playing God,” Stewart said.  “We’ve already had offers from interstate but he will develop into a real nice 3yo and Antonella wouldn’t sell him anyway.”

Swear To God (Photo: Western Racepix) will likely be given the chance to emulate Playing God’s first-crop feature winner Lordhelpmerun who claimed the 2018 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).  This year’s renewal of the Group 3 event is scheduled for April 16.