Australia: Abuela should put speed to good use at Port Macquarie
The lightly raced 4-year-old filly Abuela returns from a layoff of more than five months in a five-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse in Australia on Monday.
A winner once in five starts, Abuela has enough speed to overcome a wide draw in her first start at Port Macquarie. Trained by Gregory McFarlane, Abuela is part of a full field of 10.
Abuela won a six-furlong maiden race at Gosford Racecourse on Jan. 27, and was sixth of eight in a handicap at six furlongs there on Feb. 19, setting the before fading to lose by 2 3/4 lengths.
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Abuela has raced well at five furlongs, finishing second by about three-quarters of a length in a maiden race at Muswellbrook in June 2021.
McFarlane, who has won three races from his last 50 starts since early January, has an excellent team for the five-furlong handicap. He also starts the well-regarded gelding Mr Pointer, who was beaten a nose in a five-furlong handicap at Gosford on July 23 and make a rapid turnaround.
Mr Pointer also has speed, but has been effective from a tracking position at times in the last year.
The 4-year-old filly Wannawinwin has her second start against winners in this race. She won a maiden race at six furlongs at Port Macquarie on Feb. 6. She has had one subsequent start, finishing sixth of 12 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Taree on Feb. 22.
All of the entrants have a single win and have raced as few as three times, in the case of Blend who is on the also-eligible list, or as many as 100 starts for Secret Lago, who is also on the also-eligible list.
Secret Lago is winless in 38 starts since a win in a maiden race in November 2000.
Secret Lago, who is winless in 32 starts at Port Macquarie, was a 125-1 shot as of Saturday. Abuela was 2-1, while Mr Pointer was 5-1.
Port Macquarie has an eight-race program beginning at 10:30 p.m. Eastern or 7:30 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.