Juvenile filly faces older in Group 1 TAB Classic

Imagine an American 2-year-old filly winning a Grade 2 sprint in September or October and then facing older fillies and mares in a Grade 1 race a few weeks later.

While that seems impossible, the scenario will take place in Australia on Saturday when Away Game starts in the Group 1 TAB Classic for fillies and mares at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.

Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds are nearing the end of their first seasons of racing at this time of year.

Away Game, who debuted in November, won the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 11 for her fourth win in seven starts. In March, Away Game was second to Farnan in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes, a six-furlong race worth $2,012,500.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Away Game is the only 2-year-old in the $261,600 TAB Classic, which consists largely of 4- and 5-year-olds. The race is historically known as the Robert Sangster Stakes.

Understandably, Away Game gets a massive weight break. Jockey Dean Holland will carry 103.5 pounds, or 47 kilograms, 21 pounds fewer than a majority of the field.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, Holland, who is based in the state of Victoria, has been in isolation for nearly two weeks to be eligible to ride in the state of South Australia, where Morphettville is located, according to reports in Australia. Holland has not ridden since April 16.

As of Wednesday, Away Game was 9-2 in future book betting for the TAB Classic. Sunlight, a three-time Group 1 winner, was the 2-1 favorite. A 4-year-old filly, Sunlight was second in the Group 3 R.N. Irwin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville on April 18 in her first start since November.

The Morphettville program begins at 10 p.m. Eastern, or 7 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

In the race preceding the TAB Classic, Affair to Remember is expected to be a slight favorite to win the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The race is worth $261,600 and drew a full field of 16.

Affair to Remember, trained by Dan O’Sullivan, was third in the Vobis Sires Guineas at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse on April 18, finishing about a length behind Florent.

Toffee Tongue, a maiden after eight races, will be well-supported. She was second by 2 1/2 lengths to the highly regarded Colette in the Group 1 ATC Oaks at Randwick on April 11.