Australia: Are You Joking takes on winners in Monday handicap

Are You Joking, scratched from a one-mile handicap last week, will have his debut against winners in a seven-furlong handicap at Tamworth Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening.

Are You Joking won his third career start in a maiden race at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Nov. 24. The race at Tamworth will be the longest start of his career.

A 3-year-old gelding, Are You Joking was rated as a contender in the one-mile race at Scone last week, and will be favored in a field of 10 at Tamworth.

Tamworth has a seven-race program beginning at 10:10 p.m. Eastern or 7:10 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Are You Joking will be ridden by Aaron Bullock, who has been aboard for the gelding’s first three starts, including a third and fourth in maiden races in October and early November. Are You Joking typically races from slightly off the pace. He was the 1-2 favorite at Muswellbrook and won by a length.

The two-time winner Dubliner Boy may be a runner to catch. Dubliner Boy won a seven-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Nov. 28, ending a nine-race losing streak since a maiden race win at Tamworth last December.

Dubliner Boy, who was 10-1 on Nov. 28, has finished in the first three five times in nine career starts at Tamworth.

The 5-year-old mare Capital Gamble was close to a win at Muswellbrook on Nov. 24 and can pose a late threat at Tamworth. Capital Gamble led briefly in a handicap for fillies and mares at 7 1/4 furlongs on Nov. 24 before finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths. She is not the most reliable runner, having won once in 13 starts with five second-place finishes.

Capital Gamble is winless in 10 starts since November 2021, but that span includes a 10-month layoff.

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