Australia: Antilia in top form for handicap at Grafton
Antilia won consecutive starts for the first time in her career, taking minor handicaps in Australia in March, and had that winning streak interrupted by a narrow loss in a one-mile handicap on April 7.
Antilia was beaten only a neck in that race, a promising performance that makes her the horse to beat in a handicap at about seven furlongs at Grafton Racecourse in Australia on Monday.
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The seven-race Grafton program begins at 11:05 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 8:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
A 4-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere, Antilia has won 4 of 19 starts in her career. She has been trained by Daniel Bowen since the start of this year, a span of six races that includes the wins at Coffs Harbour on March 7 and Murwillumbah on March 23.
Antilia will have her debut at Grafton on Monday. She will carry 131 pounds, two less than starting highweight Blinkin Fast, who has finished 10th and eighth in two starts this year. Similar to Antilia, Blinkin Fast is a closer.
Monday’s race drew a field of 12. The only runner with a last-race win is the 7-year-old Heza Magic Man, a handicap race winner at 1 3/16 miles last November. Heza Magic Man, who is trained at Grafton by Chris Manson, has not raced this year. He has shown the ability to set the pace.
The assigned topweight is the 5-year-old gelding Editors at 138 pounds, but the booking of apprentice jockey Jacob Golden will drop the assignment to 129.
Editorshas made 37 starts and is winless in 12 starts since last April. He won 6 of his first 25 starts. In the last year, Editors has been second twice, most recently in September.
The course and distance should work in favor of Kijito, who has won 3 of 43 starts. Kijito was a fast-closing second in a handicap at six furlongs at Grafton on March 31, losing by less than a half-length.