Australia: Biometric tries to break losing streak in handicap at Sandown
Biometric has had nine starts since he won the Britannia Stakes at 28-1 at Royal Ascot in England in June 2019. The losing streak comprises three races in England later that year and six starts in Australia since last May.
Biometric was fourth, beaten about 2 1/2 lengths in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 6, missing second by three-quarters of a length.
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The Carlyon Cup has led Biometric to be entered in a one-mile handicap on the Lakeside course at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday, when he rates as a contender in a competitive field of 12.
First post time for the eight-race program at Sandown is 11:05 p.m., Eastern, or 8:05 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Some of the leading runners in Wednesday’s race have appeared in the same races in recent starts.
Biometric, trained by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, will start from the outside post and will be ridden by Damien Oliver. On Jan. 16, Oliver rode Biometric to a third-place finish in a seven-furlong handicap at Caulfield, losing by a half-length while racing from off the pace.
Rule the World was second in the Jan. 16 race and will race against Biometric at Sandown. Rule the World has since finished fifth in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown on Jan. 23 and third in a one-mile handicap at Flemington on Feb. 13.
Independent Road, second in the same race on Feb. 13, is yet another runner at Sandown with good credentials. Also trained by Dabernig and Hayes, who work as a partnership, Independent Road is winless in three starts since winning a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Flemington on Dec. 12.
Mystery Shot has appealing form. The 4-year-old gelding won his first five starts from December 2019 to late July of last year, and has been eighth and second in two starts since returning from a layoff of more than five months on Jan. 16. This will be the longest race for Mystery Shot, who is quick enough to lead, but more likely to race as a stalker.