Australia: Ballistic Boy strong favorite in Doomben Mile

A group stakes winner in June, Ballistic Boy could return to races at that level in coming months, pending the outcome of Friday’s Doomben Mile at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia.

A 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Ballistic Boy may start as an odds-on favorite in the Doomben Mile, which drew a field of eight and is run as a handicap. Ballistic Boy will carry 123 pounds, a favorable assignment compared to topweight Gaulois at 134.4 pounds.

Ballistic Boy has won 5 of 17 starts, including the Group 3 Rough Habit Stakes at 1 3/8 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse in June and a nose win in the Moolooaba Cup, a handicap at a mile at Sunshine Coast Racecourse on Nov. 21.

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The Moolooaba Cup was Ballistic Boy’s second start after a second-place finish in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Doomben on Nov. 7.

Gaulois, trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, drew the rail in the Doomben Cup, a race that marks a drop in class for the 6-year-old gelding. Gaulois won the Group 3 Eagle Farm Mile in June, but is winless in four subsequent start in stakes.

Gaulois was sixth of 15 in the $726,000 The Hunter Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 14, a race restricted to runners from stables based in the state of New South Wales. More recently, Gaulois was eighth of 16 in the Group 3 Festival Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 28.

Doomben has been a successful venue for Le Juge, a 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding who was fifth in the Moolooaba Cup at Sunshine Coast. At Doomben, Le Juge has won 5 of 10 starts, including the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles in May.

The Doomben Cup is the fifth race on a seven-race program that begins at 11:34 p.m. Eastern, or 8:34 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.