Australia: Blandford Lad continues hurdle career in Kevin Lafferty Stakes at Warrnambool

At the age of 6, the New Zealand-bred gelding Blandford Lad is in the midst of a career transformation.

Since mid-April, Blandford Lad has won 2 of 3 starts over hurdles in Australia interspersed by two poor performances in flat races. On Sunday, Blandford Lad has his second start in a stakes over obstacles in the $85,220 Kevin Lafferty Stakes at two miles at Warrnambool Racecourse.

Warrnambool is a venue Blandford Lad knows well. On May 5, Blandford Lad finished second by three-quarters of a length in the Champion Novice Hurdle at two miles. Blandford Lad rebounded to win a handicap hurdle at 2 1/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on May 22, but was ninth of 14 in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the flat at 50-1 at Sandown on June 11.

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By all appearances, the flat race was a prep for the Lafferty Hurdle where Blandford Lad is part of a field 10. The Lafferty is the third race on a seven-race program that begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern or 7:30 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Blandford Lad, trained by Peter Gelagotis, has won 8 of 42 starts and won on the flat as recently as March in a handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

For the Lafferty Hurdle, Blandford Lad was the 4-1 second choice as of early betting on Friday behind Big Blue at 5-2.

Big Blue has had mixed results in two hurdle races this year, his only starts of the season. Big Blue was last of eight in the prestigious Galleywood Hurdle at two miles at Warrnambool on May 4, but rebounded to win a two-mile handicap hurdle at Hamilton Racecourse on May 31.

Big Blue has won 5 of 12 starts over obstacles in his career.

Later on the Warrnambool program, Britannicus and Yulong Place head a field of six in the $85,220 Thackeray Chase at about 2 1/8 miles.

Britannicus won the Australia Chase at 2 7/16 miles at Sandown on May 22. Yulong Chase is unbeaten in two starts in chases since late May after going winless in nine starts over hurdles.