Australia: $150,000 Santa Anita claim Nimbostratus runs in handicap at Canterbury Park
Nimbostratus, claimed for a Santa Anita record $150,000 last May, will have her Australian debut in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Canterbury Park on Wednesday.
Nimbostratus started once for trainer Leonard Powell after being claimed, finishing 10th of 11 in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July. A French-bred filly by Wootton Bassett, Nimbostratus was sent to Australia last year and is now trained by Annabel Neashem.
Nimbostratus was owned by SF Bloodstock for the San Clemente, and now is listed as owned by Newgate SF and Newgate Bloodstock. Nimbostratus was claimed the day she won a six-furlong optional claimer. Earlier in 2021, Nimbostratus was third in the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on turf.
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Nimbostratus had one start in Ireland in 2020 before joining trainer Peter Miller’s stable in California that summer. Nimbostratus had eight starts for Miller before she was claimed.
At Canterbury Park, Nimbostratus is part of a field of nine and was a 14-1 outsider in early betting on Monday behind such runners as Andermatt (8-5), Capital Reign (3-1) and Dragonstone (4-1).
Andermatt, unraced since August, has won 3 of 7 starts, all for Godolphin Racing and trainer James Cummings. Andermatt won a five-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange last August in his final start of 2021. Similar to Nimbostratus, Andermatt is likely to race from off the pace.
Capital Reign, a winner of 4 of 9 starts, is expected to set the pace. He was second of four in a handicap at the brief distance of about 4 3/4 furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Feb. 18, losing by 2 1/2 lengths to the six-time winner Yulong Command.
Dragonstone, a winner of 3 of 8 starts, won a five-furlong handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Jan. 1, but has been ninth and third in his last two starts.
Canterbury Park has a seven-race program beginning at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.