Reachin’ Out enters the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick with the fewest starts of the nine fillies, positioning her possibly as the most promising improver.
By emerging sire Stay Inside, she impressed greatly en route to a four-length debut romp at Kensington last month, after two creditable trials.
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott progressed her boldly to Group 2, supported by markets naming her $3.60 favorite ahead of the 1200m Percy Sykes Stakes on Saturday.
“That was her debut performance, and she ran good times on the day, some good figures off the back of it,” Bott said.
“She was excellent, and she looks like she has continued to improve.
“She is one of the fillies on the way up. The timing might be ideal for her for this race.”
The stable’s Lumbini also contests, back from a Queensland excursion yielding a placing miss in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), then a strong second behind Pembrey in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Emphasis stayed off the Golden Slipper for her connections, homing in on this fixture despite barrier nine challenge.
“She had a quick turnaround from the Gold Coast so she may have been in need of that first run, and she bounced back last start,” Bott said.
“It was always in the plan to come through to this race and skip the Slipper. We weren’t always trying to push her towards that, we thought she would be better placed here.
“She seems to be in good shape, and the form around her looks good.”
Tulloch Lodge weighed Reisling Stakes second Agrarian Girl for Percy Sykes entry post her Golden Slipper standby role, yet Bott chose to end her campaign with a spell.
“We didn’t want to go one too many,” he said.
“She had been up for a while and just started to come to the end of it. We will do the right thing by her, and give her a bit of time.”
The contest gains intrigue from Godolphin’s Medicinal Sydney debut post Victoria wins, Satono Glow’s Randwick return after Flemington Group 3, Rachini’s Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) fourth backup, and Screen Icon’s post-Slipper push.
Find competitive racing odds across sports betting platforms for the Percy Sykes Stakes.