Australia: Ballistic Boy takes aim at Tattersall's Recognition Stakes
Last December, Ballistic Boy won the Doomben Mile Stakes at Doomben Racecourse in Australia as the 6-5 favorite for his second stakes win.
Ballistic Boy was beaten in his first six appearances at Doomben Racecourse prior to the Doomben Mile, but has taken a fancy to the course in the last year. In August and September, Ballistic Boy won consecutive starts at Doomben in lucrative handicaps, leading to a start in Wednesday’s $92,650 Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs at the same track.
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Ballistic Boy faces a formidable test against The Harrovian, who won the 2020 Recognition Stakes; Morethannumberone, a 5-year-old who has won three of his last five starts; and Niccanova, a Group 2 winner in May.
The Recognition Stakes is the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 10:03 p.m. Eastern or 7:03 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The Recognition Stakes was scheduled for Saturday, but postponed because of extensive rain.
Ballistic Boy, a 5-year-old gelding, has a favorable draw in post 6 in a field of 10, which should allow jockey Luke Dittman to position his mount in a stalking position.
The Harrovian, an 8-year-old who has won 17 of 34 starts, was third in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 at six furlongs on May 15 and sixth of 18 in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at seven furlongs at Eagle Farm on June 12 in his two most recent starts against some of the toughest sprinters in Australia.
The Harrovian, who is likely to go favored in the Recognition Stakes, has a record of running well in his first start following a layoff.
The Harrovian is winless in four starts since beating Niccanova in the Bernborough Plate at a mile at Eagle Farm last December.
Niccanova won the Group 2 Victory Stakes at six furlongs at Eagle Farm in May, and was later 11th in the Stradbroke. More recently, Niccanova was fourth in the listed Keith Noud Stakes at six furlongs at Doomben on Nov. 13 in his first start since July. Niccanova was beaten 1 3/4 lengths as a 7-1 outsider.