Australia: The Borough hopes to maintain shorter-distance success

Until mid-June, The Borough had little to show for the first year of his Australia racing career: he was winless in 13 starts.

When The Borough, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, was switched from distance races ranging from about 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles to one-mile races, the results changed. The Borough won consecutive starts at a mile in a maiden race and a handicap on June 16 and June 26.

While The Borough was third by a neck in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth on July 13, the race continued a string of successful performances leading to a start in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Monday.

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Trained by Paul Perry, The Borough will carry 126.7 pounds, less than topweight O’Driscoll at 133 pounds. O’Driscoll is not rated as a leading contender in Monday’s eight-horse field compared to The Borough, Real Gent, or Maid Marilyn.

The Borough could have a favorable trip. Real Gent, O’Driscoll, and Okay Boss tend to lead or dispute the pace, indicating there could be solid early fractions. The Borough, who will be ridden by Jeff Penza, runs as a stalker. Penza has ridden The Borough four times, including the maiden-race win at Tamworth on June 16.

Real Gent, who will carry 130 pounds, led throughout a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Grafton on July 12, ending a four-race losing streak.

Maid Marilyn, a 6-year-old mare who will carry 121 pounds, won her 2020 debut in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Taree Racecourse on April 4. Another runner likely to race from off the pace, Maid Marilyn was fifth in her most recent start in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on July 31.

Port Macquarie is one of two tracks operating in Australia on Monday. First post time is 10:20 p.m. Eastern, or 7:20 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.