The 2020 Magic Millions 2YO Classic-bound fillies do battle at Doomben this afternoon in Brisbane with a quality line-up of two-year-olds engaged for the Listed $125,000 Calaway Gal Stakes (1100m).
Ciaron Maher saddles-up the favourite Away Game in the 2019 Calaway Gal Stakes in Brisbane this afternoon. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Contested one race after the colts and geldings face off in the Phelan Ready Stakes on the Twilight Brisbane race card, this year’s Calaway Gal Stakes field is down to 10 starters after the early withdrawal of Apparently Not (9).
Clear favourite in Calaway Gal Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au this Queensland Summer Racing season is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Victorian visitor Away Game.
The stable also saddle-up the odds-on fancy in the Phelan Ready Stakes with Magic Millions hopeful Rathlin tipped to win and earn a spot in next month’s $2 million classic at the Gold Coast.
Maher & Eustace also have Magic Millions Classic (1200m) ambitions for Away Game on January 11, the Snitzel filly having her second career start this afternoon.
On debut she ran a close fourth under two lengths beaten at Sandown in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) in mid-November.
She races the other direction second-up here after the month to freshen-up, Melbourne Cup winning hoop Craig Williams engaged to ride both her and stablemate Rathlin at Doomben in the Magic Millions lead-up races.
“To be honest there is not a great deal in difference in ability between Rathlin and Away Game,” co-trainer Eustace told Racenet this week.
“Away Game ran an extremely good race at Sandown, she bumped the rail and got unbalanced.
“She has taken a good step forward now she has had that run.”
Drawn barrier seven, Away Game is at $3 and firming in Calaway Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au but is a $41 roughie in the all-in 2020 Magic Millions Classic odds for the Gold Coast.
Four rivals follow Away Game at single-figures in the Calaway Gal Stakes odds including the Tony Gollan-trained debutant The Actuary ($3.80) drawn ideally in barrier two with Jim Byrne to ride.
Sebring filly The Actuary won a lead-up Doomben trial on December 8 over 840m and is looking to hand Gollan with his third win in the race in five years after his previous success with Zelady’s Night Out (2015) and Outback Barbie (2017).
Outback Barbie went on to run third to Sunlight next-up in the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic, while Zelady’s Night Out won the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at her next run that Boxing Day.
Gold Coast-trained Smart Missile filly Smart ‘N’ Sexy ($5) is also well-backed for her debut run, while Miss Lot Won ($6.50) is the best tried in the field having her fifth start from barrier four.
Darryl Hansen’s $17 outsider Kaoru Princess ($17) is the only other non-maiden in the race coming off a Sunshine Coast win at the start of the month, while the hopes under $10 to win are rounded out by Stuart Kendrick’s daughter of Spirit Of Boom Sip It Slow ($8.50).
Click here for the latest Calaway Gal Stakes 2019 odds for this afternoon’s Magic Millions lead-up in Brisbane.
