Australia: Awesome Lad heads handicap at Warwick Farm

Awesome Lad had a perfect campaign in Australia in December, winning two sprint handicaps at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney.

The winning streak ended with a second-place finish by 1 1/4 lengths against a better class of runners at Warwick Farm on Jan. 26, a loss that cannot be too harshly criticized. Sent off at 5-1, Awesome Lad closed from sixth in a field of 12.

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Awesome Lad is back at Warwick Farm for a seven-furlong handicap on Wednesday, and rates a leading chance in a solid field of 11.

Travest, who finished sixth and seventh in lucrative sprint handicaps at Royal Randwick in December, will be favored in his first start since Dec. 26. Catapult and Invasion Day, first and second in a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm on Jan. 26, are also part of the field.

Invasion Day set the pace in his last start and was beaten a head by Catapult. Invasion Day is likely to stalk the longshot Avadane on Wednesday. A 4-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, Avadane was second in a handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on Jan. 22, losing by 1 1/4 lengths at 12-1 after disputing the pace. Avadane is winless in seven starts.

Invasion Day won a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm in November, and a repeat of that performance would put him at the fore of this group.

Travest, a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, has won both his starts at Warwick Farm, and this slightly easier field should aid his chances. Trained by Gregory Hickman, who is based at Warwick Farm, Travest runs from off the pace and was beaten 2 3/4 lengths at Randwick on Dec. 26.

The seven-race program at Warwick Farm begins at 10:20 p.m., Eastern, or 7:20 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.