Australia: Anilla will be rolling from the back in Flemington sprint

The third race at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening is a six-furlong handicap restricted to runners who have yet to win at a track located in the Melbourne area.

Anilla has certainly earned a start at a prestige venue such as Flemington, the home of the Melbourne Cup.

A 5-year-old gelding, Anilla has won 2 of 4 starts. He was second and ninth in two races at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in late 2021, and won his first two starts in Australia – a maiden race at Stawell on Dec. 3 and a handicap at about six furlongs at Wangaratta Racecourse on Dec. 22.

Anilla was heavily favored in both of those starts and will be favored at Flemington though not as an odds-on choice. Anilla was 3-1 in early betting on Wednesday.

Six-furlong races at Flemington are run on a straightaway. Anilla is likely to be toward the back of the field against 12 rivals for the first half of the race.

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The 4-year-old filly Allegretta may be closer to the front. A winner as recently as early November in a six-furlong handicap at Moe Racecourse, Allegretta was seventh of 12 in a lucrative handicap at six furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Dec. 31.

Moonee Valley has a very short stretch, which can make for difficult trips for a closer such as Allegretta, who raced in traffic with more than a quarter-mile remaining. For this race at Flemington, Allegretta will be ridden by former leading rider Jamie Kah. She is currently fifth in the standings for tracks in the state of Victoria for the current season, which began on Aug. 1.

Race conditions should suit Social Conscience, who was second by 1 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong handicap at Moonee Valley on Dec. 24, closing from fifth in a field of 14.

Flemington has a seven-race program beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern or 8 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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