Australia: Backrower favored to earn second victory in Monday handicap

The only thing missing from Backrower’s comeback in Australia on Aug. 13 was a win.

In his first start since early June, Backrower closed from fourth to finish second by a nose in a handicap for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, narrowly missing a second win in his third career start.

The elusive second victory may arrive when Backrower starts as an odds-on favorite in a seven-furlong handicap at Newcastle Racecourse on Monday evening across American time zones.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Backrower is expected to have a prominent career. He is a half-brother to Le Romain, who won five stakes, including three Group 1 races in 2016 and 2017 at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile.

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Backrower won his debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Newcastle in May and was third by 3 2/3 lengths in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in June.

Tommy Berry rode Backrower for the first time on Aug. 13 and retains the mount on a colt who tends to race from off the pace.

At Newcastle, Backrower has eight rivals, including two recent debut winners in Mayhem and Peak Legend. They ran well enough to pose a threat to Backrower if the favorite runs a sub-par race.

Mayhem led throughout a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs against four rivals at Goulburn Racecourse on Aug. 8, winning by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths.

Peak Legend has vital Newcastle experience, having won a maiden race at six furlongs by slightly more than a half-length at that track on Aug. 11. Peak Legend closed from fifth of eight in that field.

Newcastle has a seven-race program beginning at 11:20 p.m. Eastern, or 8:20 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.