Australia: Arrabbiata a perfect fit at Muswellbrook

The distance is ideal. The post position is a perfect fit. The competition lacks significant depth.

Several factors are in the favor of Arrabbiata in a handicap for fillies and mares at 7 1/4 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.

Arrabbiata tends to run near the front and will start from post 5 in a field of eight. A 4-year-old filly, Arrabbiata led throughout a maiden race at 7 1/4 furlongs at Quirindi Racecourse in May.

Arrabbiata was given a four-month layoff following that win. Since her comeback in late September, Arrabbiata has finished fifth, fourth, and third. In her most recent start, at Moree on Nov. 3, Arrabbiata set the pace before finishing slightly more than 1 3/4 lengths behind the heavily favored Leica Model in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.

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At Muswellbrook, Arrabbiata is unlikely to face significant early pressure in her first start at 7 1/4 furlongs since her maiden race win.

Arrabbiata starts in the fourth race on an eight-race program that begins at 9 p.m. Eastern or 6 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The 4-year-old filly Avoid Me is expected to race as a stalker and could be a late threat to Arrabbiata. A maiden race winner in her 12th start on Oct. 13, Avoid Me has since finished third by three-quarters of a length in a six-furlong handicap and second by slightly less than three lengths in a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs at Muswellbrook on Nov. 7.

Avoid Me was third throughout the Nov. 7 race unable to keep pace late with One Beat No Beat, the heavily favored winner.

Mckeon, who starts at Muswellbrook on Thursday evening, was fifth in the Nov. 7 race after a slow start, her first start against winners since beating maidens on Oct. 30 in her seventh start. Mckeon recovered to pass a few rivals in the final furlong.

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