Australia: Bunnamagoo worth a look in 3-year-old debut on Monday

Five months have passed since Bunnamagoo had a successful debut in Australia, winning a five-furlong maiden race at Grafton Racecourse for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds.

For his debut as a 3-year-old on that hemisphere, Bunnamagoo is an intriguing prospect in a five-furlong Monday handicap at Ballina Racecourse even though he lacks race experience.

Bunnamagoo is by far the most lightly raced runner in a field of 10 that incudes Memphis Squaw, who has started 71 times, and Brutus, who had made 53 starts.

Bunnamagoo led throughout his maiden-race win and is well drawn in post 6 at Ballina to take a similar position in the first of seven races on a program that begins at 9:45 p.m. Eastern, or 6:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Trained by Owen Glue, Bunnamagoo will be ridden by Ben Looker, who was aboard for the maiden-race win.

Bunnamagoo could face an early threat from Babayka, who won for the second time in his career in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Lismore Racecourse on Nov. 7, but was last of seven in a six-furlong handicap at Murwillumbah as the 4-5 favorite on Nov. 22, fading through the final furlong. This shorter distance could help Babayka.

The 4-year-old filly Chickerartie can be a factor as a stalker. She won a maiden race at five furlongs at Ballina on Oct. 31 in her fifth start and followed with a second by slightly less than 2 3/4 lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Ballina on Nov. 11.

The turf course at Ballina was listed as heavy as of Sunday and those conditions should suit the 5-year-old mare Lady Tulessa. She has won three times on soft turf, but was fifth of nine in a handicap on firm turf at 5 1/2 furlongs at Murwillumbah on Nov. 22.

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