What makes Radcliffe’s involvement all the more significant is that her purchases will be bidding for Group 1 glory in separate Hemispheres and each has the credentials to pull off a stunning international double strike.
The Newmarket-based agent is currently in Florida and TDN AusNZ caught up with her ahead of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained juvenile Away Game (Snitzel) taking on the older horses in the G1 Robert Sangster S. at Morphettville.
Then on Sunday morning, Australian time, another of her purchases in Nadal (USA) (Blame {USA}) will attempt to retain his unbeaten record and G1 Kentucky Derby favouritism when he steps out in the G1 Arkansas Derby.
“This is what dreams are made of and it’s just so exciting. It will be late here on Friday night when Away Game runs so I won’t get much sleep – there will be a few sleepless nights,” Radcliffe said.
“I came out here for the March Sale and we got stuck because of the coronavirus. I’ve made use of my time by looking at 2-year-olds and watching them breeze,” Radcliffe said. “We were meant to be at the April Sale as well, and now that has been put back to June.
“Very luckily a friend of ours gave us a free apartment at Palm Beach, which we’ve been at the last few weeks. I’m going back to Ocala on Thursday to look at more 2-year-olds and will watch Away Game from there with friends.”
“I’m going back to Ocala on Thursday to look at more 2-year-olds and will watch Away Game from there with friends.” – Kerri Radcliffe
Radcliffe originally signed for the Mill Park Stud-consigned Away Game for $425,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on behalf of major American client George Bolton with the Mathiesen family.
Hannah Mathiesen is the founder of Oakmont Horse Club, a new racing and pinhooking partnership and at Magic Millions time was working in Australia with Maher and Eustace.
Hannah Mathiesen leads Away Game back to the winner's stall (aqua blue dress)
“They’ve named Away Game the iron filly and that’s exactly what she is. She has so much heart and so much game and the team over there - Ciaron, David and Annabel Neasham have done a fantastic job with her,” Radcliffe said.
“The mindset she’s got is quite extraordinary and the way she won the last time was unbelievable. She loves the game, it’s just fantastic.
“She was just typical of the type I love to buy - a big, strong back end and a great walk. She was a cracking filly with a fabulous attitude and by a great sire in Snitzel.
“She was just typical of the type I love to buy - a big, strong back end and a great walk.” – Kerri Radcliffe
“It was my second time in Australia and Arthur Hoyeau pointed out to me who the good breeders were. Mill Park is a fabulous breeder and what a year they are having.
“Arthur was working for Magic Millions at the time and knew the Australian game much better than I did and pointed me in the right direction.
“I bought the filly for George and then he decided he didn’t want to have horses in Australia anymore, so Hannah put a syndicate of ladies together to race her and it’s been great for them and the Mathiesens.”
Away Game as a yearling
Away Game subsequently won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and as a result of her ownership make-up, which also includes Aquis Chairman Tony Fung’s wife Loretta, collected the $500,000 women’s bonus.
The filly has also added wins in the G2 Percy Sykes S. and the G3 Widden S. to her record and finished runner-up in the G1 Golden Slipper S. to already have earned more than $2.7 million.
Radcliffe said she was initially surprised when she learned of the stable’s intention to race her out of her age group this Saturday.
Kerri Radcliffe | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“I was taken aback when I saw she was going to run in the Robert Sangster against the older fillies, but Ciaron and his team know her better than I do. If she runs well then fantastic and if she wins it will be unbelievable.
“I would also love to see her go to Royal Ascot next year and run in something like the G1 King’s Stand S.”
Nadal an ace buy
The other half of Radcliffe’s Group 1 double act is the undefeated Nadal, purchased for Bolton and partners for US$700,000 (AU$1,086,000) at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream March 2-Year-Old Sale.
“He’s a whole different specimen. He’s a much, much bigger horse than I would usually buy, he’s absolutely massive, but has the strength with it,” she said. “He’s got a big back end and, bloody hell, he’s 17 hands.”
Trained by Bob Baffert, Nadal won his first start in January and has since eclipsed the G2 San Vicente S. and the G2 Rebel S.
“He won his maiden and then won the San Vicente three weeks later off one piece of work and then won the Rebel. I don’t think people realise the fractions (sectionals) he went in the Rebel and I was watching in Ocala and I thought, oh my God he won’t get home - the fractions were insane.”
Aurelia Garland (USA) (Constitution {USA}) is another Group 1 prospect Radcliffe and Hoyeau bought for Bolton for US$185,000 (AU$287,000) at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and Kentucky Oaks hopes are held for her.
“She won her first start last year and then got injured. She’s having her first start in a year on Saturday and she could be an Oaks filly,” Radcliffe said.
She is naturally now sold on Australian racing and will be back in this part of the world shopping for yearlings next year.
“Absolutely, 100 per cent I’ll be there. I’m trying to get more Americans to let me buy for them there. It’s fantastic and Away Game has won $2.7 million already,” Radcliffe said.
“The prizemoney is sensational and this really is my first time having anything to do with Australian racing. They race so often and it’s fantastic and an easy sell for me.”
