Not many juveniles lately have matched the packed two-year-old campaign of Away Game from six years back, so it’s no shock that her daughter, now a broodmare, Lady Catalina has enjoyed a far calmer introduction to racing.
Away Game competed eight times as a juvenile for four victories, among them the 2020 Magic Millions Classic (1200m) and Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), plus a second-place finish behind Farnan in the Golden Slipper (1200m) and, remarkably for today’s era, fifth against seasoned mares in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
By comparison, her initial racing foal, the Written Tycoon filly Lady Catalina, heads into just her second appearance in Saturday’s HMAS Sydney Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Ciaron Maher’s Sydney-based foreman, Johann Gerard-Dubord, started with the top trainer right around Away Game’s juvenile year and noted that although Lady Catalina matured more gradually, she possesses real ability.
“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.”
The filly debuted successfully in a 900m maiden at Newcastle on March 31, tracking the pacesetter before surging clear in the closing stages for a strong victory.
She found the trip testing for stretches during that contest, though, and should relish the extra ground at Randwick.
“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.”
Should Lady Catalina deliver as anticipated, a stakes chance awaits in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone in three weeks’ time.
John Stewart’s Resolute Racing owns the filly, who marked Ciaron Maher’s initial runner for the US owner with her Newcastle triumph.
Explore the racing odds for the HMAS Sydney Handicap at top Australian betting sites.