Australia: The Big Seal takes on winners in Scone handicap

The Australian gelding The Big Seal seemed stuck in a series of second-place finishes until he recorded a breakthrough win in a maiden race at Gilgandra Racecourse on July 13.

The Big Seal was the even-money favorite and won by a half-length after setting the pace. The win may be the start of a trend. The Big Seal is the 2-1 favorite to beat winners for the first time in a five-furlong handicap at Scone Racecourse on Monday.

Trained by Clint Lundholm, The Big Seal typically runs near the front. At Scone, The Big Seal will be ridden for the second time by Aaron Bullock, who was aboard for a second-place finish by three-quarters of a length in a five-furlong maiden race on June 10 at Dubbo. The loss was the second of three consecutive runner-up finishes by The Big Seal in his first three races of 2022.

The Big Seal will break from post 2 in a field of 12 at Scone, a draw that should work to The Big Seal’s advantage. Five-furlong races at Scone begin from a chute that joins the main track on the final turn before the field makes a right-handed turn into the stretch.

From post 2, Bullock should be able to take a prominent position with The Big Seal, while others in the large field could have wide trips.

Stariks, a winner of 2 of 11 starts, is another contender with an excellent chance. Stariks, who will start from post 5, tends to run near the front, a style that has led to two wins in his last five starts since late April.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Stariks won a handicap at five furlongs at Taree on June 28, but was fourth by 6 1/2 lengths against a tougher group of handicap runners at Hawkesbury on July 17. Stariks takes a drop in class for the race at Scone, which is restricted to colts, geldings, and older horses.

Scone has a seven-race program beginning at 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.