Australia: Adelaide Fever to be favored in handicap sprint

With the benefit of a promising prep race, Adelaide Fever will be favored to win for the second time in her 11th start in a handicap at about five furlongs at Grafton Racecourse in Australia on Sunday evening.

Trained by Matthew Dunn, Adelaide Fever won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Grafton on March 13, and was seventh a month later in a handicap before she was rested through most of the Austrian winter.

Adelaide Fever returned to racing at Ballina on Aug. 15, finishing second in a handicap at five furlongs. Adelaide Fever set the pace and was beaten a length by the well-regarded Connelly.

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Adelaide Fever is part of a full field of 12 at Grafton, which has a first post time of 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Adelaide Fever, who will be ridden for the first time by Aaron Bullock, drew post 6, which fits her forward running style. Her main rivals are Lady Tulessa and Burnt Butter.

Lady Tulessa is a course specialist at Grafton, having won two of three starts at the track since mid-July. She won a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at that track on July 23 and a handicap at five furlongs on Aug. 22. In both races, she set the pace.

Apprentice Lachlan Scorse rides Lady Tulessa, reducing the weight assignment from a daunting 140 pounds to 133. Lady Tulessa still carries topweight, while Adelaide Fever carries 129 pounds.

Burnt Butter will face winners for the first time in his 10th start following a win in a maiden race at five furlongs at Grafton on Aug. 22.

Burnt Butter closed from fourth in a field of 12 to win by slightly more than a half-length. A closing style could be effective against Adelaide Fever and Lady Tulessa since they both tend to run near the front.

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