Australia: Airfree goes longer in bid to extend win streak

Proven at seven furlongs in recent starts, Airfree will start at a mile for the first time since early 2019 in a handicap Tuesday at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia.

Considering her recent form, with consecutive wins since late March, Airfree is quite capable of extending her winning streak to three races against 12 rivals. A 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere mare, Airfree will carry top weight of 130 pounds and is a threat from off the pace.

Airfree rallied to win a seven-furlong handicap on March 27 at Sapphire Coast Racecourse and closed from 13 of 14 to win the Moruya Cup Handicap by a neck on April 12. Rinviata, who was second in the Moruya Cup, is part of Tuesday’s field.

Airfree, trained by Natalie Jarvis, has won 5 of 26 starts in her career. The recent wins are her first consecutive victories.

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The distance should work for Navy Cross, a 3-year-old who was fourth in a handicap at seven furlongs on April 14 at Newcastle in his first start since November. Navy Cross won consecutive starts at a mile last October, beating maidens and winning a minor handicap.

Tuesday’s race is something of a home game for Miss Jenny, who also can race near the front. Miss Jenny, trained at Kembla Grange by Glenda Markwell, has won 3 of 8 starts at the track, including a one-mile handicap on March 13. Miss Jenny was sixth in a handicap at seven furlongs at Kembla Grange on April 18.

The field is likely to be in pursuit of the 3-year-old gelding Tampering, who has won his last two starts – a maiden race at seven furlongs on March 29 at Nowra Racecourse in his fifth career outing and a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs on April 18 at Kembla Grange.

Tuesday’s Kembla Grange program begins at 11:05 p.m. Eastern on Monday, or 8:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.