Australia: Blaazay comes into form at Moruya
Blaazay, the 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, had a two-race winning streak end with a second to the promising gelding Philipsburg in a handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Sept. 11.
The loss was Blaazay’s first start away from trainer John Gamble’s base at Moruya since late May. In four starts at Moruya from late June to late August, Blaazay won twice and was second and third in races ranging from six furlongs to about seven furlongs.
Friday at Moruya, Blaazay is back on familiar turf in a handicap, but at a new distance of about a mile. Blaazay was the 9-5 favorite in early betting on Wednesday in a race expected to have a full field of 14.
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A winner of 4 of 10 starts, Blaazay has not raced beyond a distance of slightly more than seven furlongs, winning twice at that trip at Moruya on Aug. 3 and Aug. 31 against lesser company than he will face in this field. In his wins, Blaazay closed from off the pace, suggesting a longer distance is within reach.
At Kembla Grange, Blaazay made his customary run from off the pace, led briefly in the stretch, but was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Philipsburg.
At Moruya, Blaazay’s must beat My Blue Jeans and Jac the Great, who won handicaps at about seven furlongs at Moruya on Sept. 13.
My Blue Jeans had a busy September. After the Sept. 13 race, My Blue Jeans was third in a one-mile handicap at Nowra Racecourse on Sept. 19 and fifth in a one-mile handicap at Goulburn Racecourse last Saturday. My Blue Jeans closed well to lose by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths at Goulburn.
Jac the Great has started once since Sept. 13, finishing fourth by 1 1/4 lengths in a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs at Queanbeyan on Tuesday. This is the fastest turnaround of the 5-year-old mare’s career, which includes three wins in 12 starts.
Moruya has an eight-race program that begins at 11 p.m., Eastern, or 8 pm., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.