Australia: Burling puts his youth against seasoned veterans in six-furlong handicap

Burling, the Southern Hemisphere 2-year-old, won his debut with a bold rally from off the pace at Tamworth Racecourse in Australia on April 23. His second start can best be described as unconventional.

Burling is the lone 2-year-old starting against older horses in a six-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Sunday evening. The timing of the race is similar to a North American-bred juvenile racing against older horses in mid-November.

Judging from Burling’s debut win, the added distance may suit a gelding with an American-influenced pedigree. Burling is by Into Mischief and is out of Spirit of Esctasy, a mare by Congrats who was winless in two starts for trainer Michael McCarthy at Santa Anita in 2016.

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Trained by Cody Morgan, Burling is part of a full field of 14 in the fifth race on a seven-race program that begins at 11:05 p.m. Eastern, or 8:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Burling could go favored, although there will be major support for Leggy Point, a 3-year-old filly who won her debut last October in the first of three starts.

Leggy Point was sixth in a handicap last November, and fourth by five lengths in her comeback in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Scone Racecourse on April 17. Leggy Point raced wide throughout that race, and was beaten a head for third.

Burling will carry 127.8 pounds, while Leggy Point has been assigned 124.5 pounds.

Apple Cubed, who has won once in five starts, is the 130-pound highweight for his first start since December. Apple Cubed is rated as an outsider.

Ever Bella was expected to be the 132-pound highweight, but the presence of apprentice jockey Ronald Simpson reduces the assignment to 127.8 pounds.

Ever Bella, a 4-year-old filly, has won once in 14 starts. She has been third in four of her last five starts, including a neck loss in a handicap at 6 1/4 lengths at Gunnison Racecourse on May 2.

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