Australia: Analytica's positional speed may give him edge at Bendigo Racecourse

A one-mile race at Bendigo Racecourse in Australia is run around one turn on a left-handed track, a layout familiar to American racing fans.

The long run to the turn in such a race could help Analytica, who starts from post 11 in a field of 12 in a handicap at that distance on Sunday. Analytica, a 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding trained by Patrick Payne, is the only entrant with a win in his last start.

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Analytica won the Wash Your Hands Handicap at about 7 1/2 furlongs at 10-1 at Sale Racecourse on April 14, ending a nine-race losing streak that began last July. Analytica, who has won 4 of 16 starts, has shown the ability to race near the front, but more frequently runs from a stalking position.

The outside post should give jockey Laura Lafferty ample time to gain a favorable position.

Sunday’s program at Bendigo begins at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Lafferty, an apprentice, had two wins at Sale on April 14, and has since won with two of 29 mounts through Friday. She claims 4.4 pounds, or two kilograms, which means Analytica will carry 126.7 pounds compared to topweight Eckhart at 132.

Eckhart was fifth in a race with similar handicap conditions at seven furlongs at Echuca Racecourse on April 5 in his first start since August. In June 2019, Eckhart won a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Bendigo and was later third in three consecutive races at 1 5/16 miles.

Sunday’s race is arguably shorter than Eckhart’s best distance, but the 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding did win two handicaps at one mile in 2018.

The distance should suit Under Oath, the winner of a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse in February. Under Oath has been running in longer races, and was second against a tougher field in a one-mile race at Terang Racecourse in January.