Australia: Archanna at better distance for second start following layoff

Archanna ran out of ground when she finished sixth of eight in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 13.

A 4-year-old filly, Archanna won two of her final three starts of 2020 in handicaps at 7 3/4 furlongs and 1 3/16 miles in September and October. Archanna is entered in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Randwick on Wednesday, a distance that should be a better fit than her comeback race.

Archanna is expected to be a slight favorite in a field of 10 in the sixth of eight races on a program that begins at 9:45 p.m. Eastern, or 6:45 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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

Archanna will be ridden by James McDonald, who through Monday was third among riders at tracks in the state of New South Wales with 89 wins since the season began on Aug. 1.

McDonald rode Archanna to a win in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Racecourse in September, and to a second by a nose in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick in early October. Nash Rawiller was aboard Archanna for the win at 1 3/16 miles later in October.

Archanna runs from off the pace, while Invasion Day, a contender in Wednesday’s race, is capable of leading. Invasion Day was second by about a neck in a handicap at a mile at Gosford on Feb. 24, his fourth consecutive loss since a win in a handicap at seven furlongs at Warwick Farm in November.

Favreau is well-suited to this distance, having won a handicap at a mile at Canterbury on Feb. 19 as the 4-5 favorite for his first victory in his seventh start. Favreau was fifth of 10 in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick in October in his final start of 2020. He has the best recent experience in top-class races of anyone in this field.