Australia: Allhallowtide has advantage at right price over tricky Wyong course
Allhallowtide was second by a neck in his first start in more than three months on July 20, a prep race that should serve the gelding well in a one-mile handicap at Wyong Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening.
Allhallowtide is part of a field of 12 and figures to be a factor from slightly off the pace. Allhallowtide won a maiden race at a mile in his third career start in March at Kembla Grange Racecourse and was later sixth in a handicap in April before the brief rest.
Apprentice jockey Molly Bourke rode Allhallowtide to the close second at Kembla Grange on July 20 and has the mount at Wyong. With Bourke in the saddle, Allhallowtide’s weight assignment has been reduced from 130 pounds to 123, much lower than topweight Dreamdeel at 131.
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Dreamdeel, a winner of 3 of 16 starts, was the 3-1 favorite in early betting on Tuesday. Allhallowtide was a more attractive price at 9-2.
An expected pacesetter, Dreamdeel may have a tough assignment. He breaks from the outside and will need to show speed to avoid a wide trip.
Wyong Racecourse is slightly shorter than 1 1/8 miles and has a more circle-like layout than the oval courses prevalent in the United States. One-mile races at Wyong start on the side of the course with a run of a little more than a furlong before a turn. Riders that fail to save ground find their mounts wide throughout a mile race.
Dreamdeel won a handicap at about 1 1/8 miles at Newcastle in April, but did not start again until he finished fifth of 12, beaten two lengths, against a tougher field at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on July 22.
Dreamdeel has won at seven furlongs, a mile, and about 1 1/8 miles.
Wyong has an eight-race program beginning at 10:25 p.m. Eastern or 7:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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