Reachin’ Out is the least experienced of the nine runners in the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick, but she might just be the filly with the most upside.
A daughter of emerging sire Stay Inside, Reachin’ Out created a big impression when scoring an emphatic four-length win on debut at the Kensington track last month, a performance which followed two handy barrier trial efforts.
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have had no hesitation stepping her straight to Group 2 company, and early markets support their judgment, with the two-year-old a $3.60 favourite for Saturday’s Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).
“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 will also be represented by Lumbini, who returned from a trip to Queensland with an unplaced effort in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) before rebounding with an encouraging second to Pembrey in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Connections were never overly focused on a Golden Slipper start, instead keen to target Saturday’s assignment, although she will have to overcome a tricky draw in barrier nine.
“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 also had Reisling Stakes runner-up Agrarian Girl in the Percy Sykes mix after she missed a Golden Slipper start as an emergency, but Bott said she had come to the end of her preparation and been spelled.
“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 Percy Sykes Stakes is shaping as an intriguing contest with Godolphin youngster Medicinal making her Sydney debut after two strong wins in Victoria, while the unbeaten Satono Glow returns to her home track after taking out a Group 3 at Flemington last start.
Rachini adds another form line to the pot as she prepares to back-up from a fourth in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), while Screen Icon is chasing a consolation win after missing a Golden Slipper start.
