Australia: Beyond Desire at home in distance races

Distance races have changed the career of the 5-year-old Australian-bred mare Beyond Desire.

Since she was first tried at 1 1/4 miles at the end of May, Beyond Desire has finished among the first three in as many starts at that distance and about 1 3/8 miles. Beyond Desire is back at 1 3/8 miles in a handicap at Grafton Racecourse on Monday and again poses a threat.

Trained by Matthew Dunn, Beyond Desire was the 20-1 winner of a handicap at about 1 3/8 miles at Ipswich Racecourse on July 30. A winner of 3 of 14 starts, Beyond Desire was about 3-2 in future-book betting Saturday.

The handicap at Grafton drew a field of 10, with runners such as But I Know, Dash for Van, and Ambitious Prince also holding leading chances.

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Ambitious Prince is topweight at 134.4 pounds, while Beyond Desire will carry 125.6 pounds. Ambitious Prince set the pace in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Coffs Harbour on Aug. 6 and yielded the lead in the final strides to lose by about a neck.

Dash for Van, who will carry 122.3 pounds, was seventh of eight in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Gold Coast Racecourse on Aug. 1, but did beat four rivals in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Murwillumbah on May 31. The latter race makes Dash for Van more appealing Monday, particularly if he takes a position near the front of the field as he has in the past.

But I Know is winless in 11 starts since last October, when she raced against better company at Royal Randwick Racecourse. She was seventh in the same race as Ambitious Prince at Coffs Harbour on Aug. 6, but should get a stalking trip in this field from an inside draw.

First post time at Grafton is 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.