Australia: Ceasefire takes aim at Bengalla Cup at Muswellbrook

A retreat to a familiar countryside track in Australia may end a 10-race losing streak for the 5-year-old gelding Ceasefire on Saturday evening.

Ceasefire will start as a heavy favorite in the minor Bengalla Cup at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook, a course the runner knows well. Ceasefire, by Panzer Division, has won 4 of 19 starts in his career, and 3 of 6 races at Muswellbrook.

In his most recent start at Muswellbrook, Ceasefire finished second by a short head in a handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs on June 4. In his last race, Ceasefire finished third by a little more than a half-length in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on July 5.

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Ceasefire is a versatile runner. He set the pace on July 5 and raced well as a stalker on June 4.

Trained by Paul Messara, Ceasefire will be ridden by Aaron Bullock, who has been aboard the gelding for three of his four wins. Bullock most recently rode Ceasefire on June 4.

Ceasefire is part of a field of 10 that includes Memories, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred mare who won a handicap at about 5 1/2 furlongs at Dubbo Racecourse on July 10 by closing from sixth in a field of 10. For Memories, the Dubbo race was her first start since December.

Memories has won two of her last four starts since November, and is the only runner in the Bengalla Cup with a last-race win.

Ceasefire will carry 131 pounds, slightly less than top weighted Eiger at 132. Eiger, a winner of 8 of 35 starts, is winless in nine races since May 2022. Memories will carry 121 pounds.

Muswellbrook has a seven-race program beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern or 8 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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