Away Game a Class Above in Percy Sykes

Mark Smith - Saturday April 11

What a tough, durable top-class filly Away Game is!.

On the go since finishing a luckless fourth in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Flemington back in November, the daughter of Snitzel has claimed the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben, the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast, the Group III Widden Stakes at Randwick as well as a close-up fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and a fighting second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill at her most recent start.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly looked fresh as a daisy when she shouldered Chianti out of the way in the closing stages of Saturday’s Group II Heineken 3 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

With Glen Boss in the saddle Away Game defeated the Vancouver filly Vangelic by with the Siyouni filly See You Soon back in third.

Stable representative Annabel Neasham praised Away Game’s constitution.Away Game Glen Boss images Steve Hart

“She’s been unbelievable, I think she has run every month since November. It’s a real credit to the team to keep up this long,” Neasham said.

“We have spaced her runs and we were pretty confident she came into today as good as she was in the Slipper.

“There was a bit of a query on the (heavy) track but she is just so tough.

“She’s just a bonny filly who loves being in work and I can’t wait until she turns into a three-year-old.

“I’d say she will get a break now and concentrate on the Spring.”

Glen Boss said the daughter of Snitzel has staked a claim for top two-year-old honours.

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"I'm confident she just put her hand up for two-year-old of the year," Boss said.

"She has just done an incredible job.

"I said to Ciaron when I rode her on Tuesday that you just loving being on her back because she has so much enthusiasm and life.”

A $425,000 purchase by Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock out of the Mill Park draft at the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Away Game advances her record to 4 wins and 1 second from 7 starts with earnings of $2,721,800.

She is a sister to the talented Modern Wonder the winner of the 2016 SAJC Dequetteville Stakes and was placed in the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes and Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes.

They are two of the five winners from as many to race out of the stakes-placed Elusive Quality (USA) mare Elusive Wonder who is a half-sister to the Listed BRC McDougall Stakes winner Tantra (Royal Academy) as well as to the dam of Listed winner Oak Park (More Than Ready) from the family of Group 1 ATC Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think).

Segenhoe Stud offered a three-quarter sister to Away Game by Not A Single Doubt at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, which was purchased by Aquis Farm for $580,000.

Elusive Wonder foaled her eighth consecutive filly on October 12, a daughter of Merchant Navy and was bred back to Fastnet Rock’s champion son.

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Race Result - Heineken 3 Percy Sykes Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:12.26
1
Away Game
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Elusive Wonder (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: G Boss 56
2
1.5
Vangelic
- 2f Vancouver (AUS) x Angel Bee (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
Vancouver
3
2.8
See You Soon
- 2f Siyouni (FR) x Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run (USA))
Tnr: Jean Dubois Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 54
4
3.0
Dame Giselle
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
5
3.2
Rock My Wand
- 2f Wandjina (AUS) x Rose Of Montana (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J R Collett 54
6
3.5
Forbidden Love
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x Juliet's Princess (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 54
7
4.2
Philizzy
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Sovereign Duchess (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: B Avdulla 54
8
6.4
Muntaseera
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Moosirra (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: T Marquand 54.5
9
7.6
Time Is Precious
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Rose Of Sharon (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: J Innes Jnr 54
10
8.9
Swats That
- 2f Shamus Award (AUS) x Is It A Mosquito (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: S Clipperton 54
11
10.5
Mary Valley
- 2f Charge Forward (AUS) x La Chasseuse (AUS) (Lion Hunter (AUS))
Tnr: S P Ryan Rdr: R Dolan 54
12
12.1
Chianti
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sweet Sanette (SAF) (Jallad (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
13
18.7
Jemss
- 2f Exosphere (AUS) x Carbon Tax (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: G Schofield 54
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