Australia: Burrandana gets final chance to qualify for rich stakes

The gelding Burrandana closed from 15th to finish third in a seven-furlong handicap at Albury Racecourse in Australia on Feb. 25, a loss that ended a three-race winning streak.

Had Burrandana finished first or second, he would have qualified for a $330,500 stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, restricted to horses based with stables in the state of New South Wales.

Burrandana has one more chance to qualify for that lucrative final when he starts in a field of 16 in a trial race at Goulburn Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Trained by Peter Morgan, who is based at Wagga Wagga Racecourse, Burrandana was the 9-2 favorite in early betting as of Wednesday.

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A 4-year-old, Burrandana has won 3 of 5 starts. The three-race winning streak encompassed sprints ranging in distances from six to seven furlongs at Wagga Wagga in January. In each race, Burrandana closed from well off the pace.

The Goulburn trial, worth $99,300, is part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

I’ve Bean Tryin’ and Eastern Glow, who were seventh and 12th in a qualifying race at Moruya Racecourse on March 5, are part of the Goulburn field. I’ve Bean Tryin’ had a wide trip throughout that seven-furlong race and finished 6 1/2 lengths behind race winner Kimberley Secrets.

Baledon, fourth in the Albury qualifier, is another threat from off the pace. A winner of 4 of 16 starts, Baledon returned from a four-month layoff to win a handicap at about 5 3/4 furlongs at Albury on Feb. 2. Last August, Baledon won a lucrative 16-runner handicap at Rosehill Gardens by a nose, closing from 12th.

Baledon, 16-1 in early betting on Wednesday, is a longshot with a chance.

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