Australia: Charlotting seeks third consecutive win in one-mile handicap

The two-race winning streak Charlotting compiled in Australia in April will be tested when the 3-year-old filly starts at a higher class level in a one-mile handicap at Gunnedah Racecourse on Monday evening.

Charlotting was beaten in her first three starts, sprints at 5 1/2 furlongs to seven furlongs, but won two races at a mile in April – a maiden race at Tamworth and a first-condition handicap at Narromine.

Charlotting closed from third to win at Tamworth and led throughout the race at Narromine.

Charlotting is trained by Michael Lunn, who does not have a large team. Lunn has been successful of late. He won with 3 of 8 runners in April and has two leading contenders on the eight-race program at Gunnedah.

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Charlotting starts in the second race, while Yak, the winner of a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Tamworth on April 21, starts in the fourth race. Yak was 7-1 in early betting on Sunday

Charlotting was 6-1 in early betting behind Dimension (2-1) and Rebel’s Edge (4-1).

Brooke Stower will ride Charlotting for the second time. Stower rode Charlotting to a second-place finish in a maiden race at seven furlongs in March. Stower is likely to have Charlotting in a forward position at Gunnedah in a race that drew a field of 11.

Dimension has won 2 of 14 starts and was fourth with a remarkable excuse when beaten five lengths in a seven-furlong handicap at Scone on April 17. Dimension’s gate opened slightly slower than the other runners, leaving the gelding a length behind a few strides into the race. Dimension closed from eighth to gain his best position at the wire.

According to a stewards’ report, Dimension could not be declared a non-starter because he recovered sufficiently to finish in the first four.

In his preceding start, Dimension won a seven-furlong handicap at Tamworth by closing from off the pace.

Rebel’s Edge can race near the front. A winner of 2 of 21 starts, Rebel’s Edge was third in a one-mile handicap at Scone on April 17, losing by slightly less than a half-length.

Gunnedah has an eight-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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