Australia: Chamisal comes back quick for Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour

Chamisal set the pace in a seven-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 24, losing the lead only in the final strides.

The second-place finish must not have taken a significant toll on the 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding. Chamisal will make a rapid turnaround in Thursday’s Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour Racecourse in New South Wales.

Trained by John Sprague, Chamisal has done well when his races occur in rapid succession. On Oct. 9, Chamisal finished third in a handicap at Port Macquarie and returned a week later to win a one-mile handicap at Taree.

Chamisal is part of a field of 14 in the Sawtell Cup, which is run at 7 1/2 furlongs. While Chamisal led at Port Macquarie on Nov. 24, he is not reliant on that strategy, having frequently raced as a stalker. But there is not a lot of speed in the Sawtell Cup, which could result in jockey Raymond Spokes putting Chamisal on or near the lead. Spokes has ridden Chamisal in his last four starts.

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At Port Macquarie on Nov. 24, Chamisal raced against Mister Smartee, who stalked the pace, but faded to finish fourth of five, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Mister Smartee was second to Chamisal in the Oct. 16 race at Taree, while Mister Smartee and Chamisal were first and second in a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs at Kempsey Racecourse on Nov. 6.

Mister Smartee is a leading contender in the Sawtell Cup as a stalker and has a favorable draw in post 2.

The Sawtell Cup is part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:25 p.m. Eastern, or 6:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Safado carries top weight of 132 pounds, compared to 126.7 pounds for Chamisal and 124.5 for Mister Smartee. Safado will draw support considering the 6-year-old gelding has raced against tougher fields in recent starts, finishing fourth in a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm on Oct. 7 and ninth of 12 as a 50-1 longshot in a six-furlongs handicap at Kembla Grange on Nov. 21.

Safado is winless in seven starts since a lucrative seven-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse in February 2019.