Australia: Bunker Hut in better spot than his last race

With an ambitious stakes appearance in his recent past, the New Zealand-bred 3-year-old Bunker Hut starts in a more realistic spot at Canterbury Park near Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday evening.

Bunker Hut will be a strong favorite in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs that has drawn a field of nine Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds. Trained by Michael Freedman, Bunker Hut will be ridden by James McDonald, Australia’s leading rider by money earnings in the current season, which began in August.

Bunker Hut is winless in three starts since a maiden race win at Kembla Grange last September. This will be Bunker Hut’s third start of the year.

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He was a game second in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on April 19, but only eighth of 14 in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas at six furlongs on May 6, losing by 3 1/4 lengths.

As of Monday, Bunker Hut was the 5-4 favorite in the race at Canterbury Park, a much shorter price than Bat Out of Hell (9-2) or Surfers Royale (6-1)

Bat Out of Hell, a winner of 2 of 6 starts, was seventh of 13 in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Canterbury Park on May 3, losing by 6 1/4 lengths in his first start since January. A stalker, Bat Out of Hell may perform better in this slightly longer race. He has won at six furlongs and 6 3/4 furlongs in his brief career.

Bat Out of Hell was scheduled to carry top weight of 134.4 pounds, but will carry 131 because of the booking of apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd. That leaves Bunker Hut as the 133-pound topweight.

Surfers Royale has won 2 of 8 starts and seems more likely to be placed than win. Surfers Royale was third and second in his first two starts of 2023 in April, but only fifth of nine after a wide trip against a slightly tougher field in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Scone on May 12.

Canterbury Park has a seven-race program beginning at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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