Australia: Boncassie brings top form to Tuesday handicap

The 3-year-old filly Boncassie, the winner of her last two starts at a minor track in Australia, is in such excellent form that she will start against older horses for the first time in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Taree Racecourse on Tuesday.

Similar to all Southern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds, Boncassie had a recognized birthday on Aug. 1, just like Northern Hemisphere horses have the same on Jan. 1. Boncassie won her final start at 2 in a handicap at about six furlongs at Coffs Harbour on July 24 and her 3-year-old debut in a six-furlong handicap at Coffs Harbour on Aug. 5.

At Taree, Boncassie will be the lone 3-year-old in a field of 12. Trained by Brett Ballamy, Boncassie has won 2 of 5 starts in a career that began in February. The filly is quick, having set the pace in her two recent wins.

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

Despite being the youngest runners in the field, Boncassie will carry 124.5 pounds, less than topweight Obscene at 127.8 pounds, but more than six runners who will carry 121 or 123 pounds.

Jockey Raymond Spokes, aboard for the recent wins, has the mount.

The Taree race will be the first start against winners for Save Your Kisses, a 4-year-old filly who won her debut against maidens by a nose in a race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Scone on Aug. 3. Save Your Kisses raced from a stalking position, which could be an effective trip if Boncassie faces pressure from Obscene or the longshot Whaler Bill.

A quick pace would help Chase My Crown, a 4-year-old filly who was assigned joint topweight, but will carry 121 pounds because of the presence of apprentice jockey Jackson Searle.

Chase My Crown has not raced since finishing last of 10 in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic at a mile at Kembla Grange Racecourse on March 12. Chase My Crown’s lone win in six starts was a maiden race at Taree last September.

Taree has a seven-race program that begins at 10:40 p.m. Eastern, or 7:40 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.