Australia: Apprentice Wheeler aboard Vanbari, has stablemate to beat

This has been a busy January in Australia for apprentice jockey Bailey Wheeler.

From Jan. 1 through last Friday, Wheeler won with four of 50 mounts. Wheeler, 16, is allied with prominent trainer Kris Lees and rides for that stable on Friday when Vanbari starts in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Scone Racecourse.

Wheeler knows his main competition very well – another Lees-trained runner in I Want One.

Wheeler, who had his first winner in November, rode Vanbari to a sixth and a third in handicaps in December and earlier this month. When Vanbari won a handicap at a mile at Tuncurry Racecourse on Jan. 15, Darryl McLellan had the mount. Wheeler was aboard I Want One, who finished second by a head.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

At Scone, I Want One will be ridden by Dylan Gibbons, a journeyman closely associated with Lees.

Vanbari was scheduled to carry 138.8 pounds, but will have an assignment of 134.4 pounds because of Wheeler’s apprentice allowance. I Want One will carry 132 pounds.

A 4-year-old gelding, Vanbari has won 3 of 15 starts, with all the wins at a mile. He tends to run as a stalker.

I Want One, a 3-year-old gelding, has won two of six starts and is quick enough to lead. Wheeler was aboard I Want One for consecutive wins in a maiden race at 7 1/4 furlongs at Kempsey Racecourse on Dec. 13 and a handicap at 7 1/2furlongs at Port Macquarie on Jan. 1. The recent loss at Tuncarry was the longest start for I Want One, who finished with enough interest to suggest this slightly longer race will not be an issue.

Vanbari and I Want One are part of a field of 10 that includes Still in Fashion and Keen Contributor.

Still in Fashion was third against a good field in a seven-furlong handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Jan. 1 and finished with some interest when fifth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, in a seven-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Jan. 20.

Keen Contributor, a 4-year-old filly, was sixth by two lengths in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on Jan. 18, closing from eighth in her first start since May. She has run well at a mile in the past and should be effective at this trip.

Scone has an eight-race program beginning at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.