Away Game filly Lady Catalina eyes Randwick improvement
It's rare for recent two-year-olds to boast a schedule as intense as Away Game's from six years prior, which explains why her offspring, Lady Catalina from the now-broodmare, has taken a more relaxed path into competition.
The juvenile Away Game notched eight starts at two for four successes, featuring the 2020 Magic Millions Classic (1200m) and Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), a near-miss behind Farnan in the Golden Slipper (1200m), and an unusual fifth to older females in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
Differently, Written Tycoon filly Lady Catalina, her debut foal on the track, contests her second race in the HMAS Sydney Handicap (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday.
Johann Gerard-Dubord, foreman for trainer Ciaron Maher in Sydney—who joined during Away Game's two-year-old exploits—described Lady Catalina as developing steadily but brimming with potential.
"She is a very different horse to Away Game. Away Game was very natural, very early," Gerard-Dubord said.
"By this time of year, she'd had plenty of racing already.
"We've taken our time with Lady Catalina. She is a beautiful filly. She has changed a lot physically, she has grown. She has been in work a long time because we wanted to take her to the trials and the races when she was ready for it."
On March 31, Lady Catalina broke her maiden over 900m at Newcastle, sitting behind the frontrunner before powering home decisively.
Though challenged by the short sprint at times, the step up in trip to Randwick is predicted to suit her well.
"Funnily enough, even though she had been showing us a lot of speed, she was actually at her top for most of the way there and late she was good, so stepping up to 1100 will be no issue," Gerard-Dubord said.
"We gave her a tick over trial last week where I thought she was very good. She was just there to have a good day out and trialled very nicely."
A strong showing could propel her towards black-type action in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone three weeks hence.
Resolute Racing, under John Stewart, campaigns the filly and celebrated Maher's first victory for the American with her Newcastle debut.
Find the best online bookmakers offering markets for the HMAS Sydney Handicap.
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