Australia: The Astrologist's future includes the Bletchingly lead

When he sets the pace, The Astrologist is dangerous in Australian sprints. Without an early lead, The Astrologist is not as effective.

The Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday may develop in favor of The Astrologist, who tries to build on a two-race winning streak. The Astrologist appears to be the pacesetter in a field of 12.

The $118,100 Bletchingly Stakes is part of a nine-race program that begins at 10:05 p.m. Eastern, or 7:05 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Astrologist, trained by the father and son team of Leon and Troy Corstens, is a 4-year-old gelding who has won 6 of 17 starts. The current winning streak includes a lucrative handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Flemington Racecourse on June 19 and the All Victorian Sprint Series Stakes at six furlongs at Flemington on July 3.

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Those races were run on soft turf. Rain is expected to leave the Caulfield course heavy for the Bletchingly Stakes.

Red Can Man, expected to be a slight favorite, will race from a stalking position. Trained by David Brideoake, Red Can Man won the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf at Caulfield on July 10. Red Can Man has won 8 of 20 starts, with all the victories on good turf. He is 0 for 2 on heavy or soft turf, including a seventh behind The Astrologist at Flemington on June 19.

Viridine, sixth by 2 3/4 lengths in the Monash Stakes, is part of the Bletchingly Stakes, and will race from off the pace.

The Bletchingly Stakes is the first start since mid-March for Streets of Avalon, the winner of the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield in February. Streets of Avalon has kept outstanding company in recent starts, but could be in need of a run in his first appearance since a seventh at 50-1 in the $3.85 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on March 13.

Viridine and Streets of Avalon were first and second in the 2020 Bletchingly Stakes.