Australia: Catapult will get test in handicap

There were plenty of hints through 2019 that the Southern Hemisphere gelding Catapult had ability. Three times in four starts, he finished second, once by a half-length.

Catapult was rested during the Australian summer. Since his return to racing in April, Catapult is unbeaten in two starts at five furlongs at Goulburn Racecourse – a maiden race and a minor handicap.

Catapult will face the toughest test of his brief career in a six-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse south of Sydney on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s handicap is the sixth of seven races on a program that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Catapult, by Medaglia d’Oro, will carry 127.8 pounds, less than topweight Nindamos at 135.5.

Trained by Richard Litt, Catapult is a closer. He rallied from 11th in a field of 12 to win a handicap on May 8 at Goulborn. This will be the longest start of his career.

Nindamos, a winner of 3 of 11 starts, was second in a handicap on May 6 at Canterbury Park after a layoff of more than four months, closing with interest from the back of the field.

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Nindamos has won two of his last five starts, with both wins in handicaps at seven furlongs and a mile at Kembla Grange last October and November. He figures to be well-backed after a solid return earlier this month.

The 7-year-old mare Leami Astray can set the pace. She has led or disputed the lead in recent starts in distances ranging from six to seven furlongs, fading from contention in the final furlong. Leami Astray did win a six-furlong handicap as the 7-5 favorite at Moruya last August.

Budderoo Knight will be near the front. The 8-year-old gelding has won 4 of 7 starts at Kembla Grange in his 50-race career, including a seven-furlong handicap at 7-1 in his most recent start April 18.

Those runners figure to give Catapult a test in a field of 11