Australia: In the Boat favored in Country Discovery Stakes

The speedy gelding In the Boat won his stakes debut as the even-money favorite in the Abell Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Australia on March 18.

A 4-year-old, In the Boat has a chance for another first when he starts in a competitive field of 15 in Friday’s Country Discovery Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Sale Racecourse. This is the first running of the Country Discovery Stakes, which is worth $370,750.

Trained by Lindsey Smith, In the Boat often sets the pace and could face a tough start from post 14 under jockey Blaike McDougall. In the Boat has won five of his last six starts since late October, with the only loss in that time a third by slightly more than three-quarters of a length in a lucrative handicap at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Feb. 12. The Caulfield race was the longest in the 10-race career of In the Boat, a six-time winner.

Aside from the outside post, In the Boat will be tested by the last-race stakes winners Lombardo and Showmanship.

Lombardo won the Manihi Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse on April 2 in his second start of the year, racing as a stalker. A 5-year-old gelding, Lombardo has won 7 of 13 starts.

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

Showmanship has won 7 of 8 starts, but has not raced since a win in the Bendigo Bank Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley in September 2020. Showmanship was diagnosed with a tendon injury shortly after that race. A 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Showmanship finished first in a five-furlong training race from the gate, or barrier trial, at Colac Racecourse last month.

The Country Discovery Stakes is a handicap. In the Boat will carry minimum weight of 119 pounds, the same as Showmanship, and slightly less than Lombardo at 121 pounds.

Savatoxl will carry top weight of 134.4 pounds in his first start since a 10th of 12 in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley last October. Earlier that month, Savatoxl won the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield.

A 6-year-old gelding who won a Group 1 sprint last May, Savatoxl was a longshot in early betting on Wednesday, but has run well after a layoff in his 32-race career, which includes 17 wins. Savatoxl will start from the outside post.

Sale has an eight-race program beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.