Snitzel filly Away Game scored a win for the girls with a brilliant victory in the 2020 $2m The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast today.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained filly has an all female ownership which made her eligible to collect an additional $350,000 bonus on top of her $1,160,00 winner’s cheque.
Away Game was coming off a nice win in the Listed $125,000 Calaway Gal Stakes (1110m) at Doomben on December 18 but was still sent out at the juicy odds of $41.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher was very excited to see his filly trounce her rivals as the stable had put plenty of time and money into getting their large contingent of two year olds to the races.
“It was a fantastic effort by the team and everyone involved,” Maher said.
“We bought a lot of two year olds last year and that was out main focus this year.”
“This is one of the big two year old races of the year and it is fantastic to get it
Winning jockey Luke Currie settled Away Game in fifth and sixth position after jumping from barrier twelve in the sixteen horse field and gave the filly a trouble free run.
Away Game was pulled to the centre of the track in the straight where the better going was and quickly reined in the leader, Lady Banff, before going on to record a one and three quarter lengths win over the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Stellar Pauline ($17) who made up plenty of ground in the straight.
Third placegetter Conceited ($9) was also doing his best work at the finish while the $4.60 favourite Aim was stuck on the fence and never threatened at any stage of the race to finish eighth.