Australia: Air Marshal hopes winning form will continue in Monday handicap

This is a good time of year for a mid-level sprinter such as Air Marshal to be in good form at Grafton Racecourse in Australia.

Air Marshal returned from a nine-month layoff to win a handicap at about 5 1/2 furlongs at Grafton on Sept. 26. On Monday evening Air Marshal will be back at Grafton for a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs, the Jacaranda Prelude, designed as a prep for the minor Jacaranda Cup at the same venue on Nov. 2.

Air Marshal is one of three main contenders in the Jacaranda Prelude, along with Sir Ravanelli and Fortyfive Parklane.

The Jacaranda Prelude is the second race on a seven-race program at Grafton that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Air Marshal ended a 14-race losing streak since October 2020 with the win last month, although he was second by a nose in a sprint handicap at Gold Coast in October 2022.

Air Marshall, who tends to run from off the pace, has won three times at 5 1/2 furlongs in his 28-race career.

Sir Ravanelli won consecutive starts in January and February, including a $138,000 restricted stakes at seven furlongs. He was 12th of 16 in the $338,000 final of that restricted series on April 1 before he was rested for six months.

In his comeback, Sir Ravanelli was seventh of 13, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, at 25-1 in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on Oct. 2. Sir Ravanelli ran against a tougher field that day than he will meet at Grafton.

Fortyfive Parklane ended a four-race losing streak with a one-length win in a handicap at six furlongs at Lismore Racecourse on Sept. 21, closing from fourth in a field of nine. Fortyfive Parklane has won 6 of 31 starts in his career, with the wins at distances ranging from five furlongs to six furlongs.

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