Australia: Chase My Crown has home-field advantage; Verry Elleegant upset in Group 1

After three losses in the last four months, the Australian filly Chase My Crown will start in a modest one-mile handicap at Taree Racecourse on Monday.

Chase My Crown is trained by the father and son partnership of Wayne and Joel Wilkes, who are based at Taree. It is safe to say that the countryside track is Chase My Crown’s favorite venue.

A 4-year-old, Chase My Crown has won 2 of 14 starts, with both wins coming amid five starts at Taree.

Last October, Chase My Crown won a one-mile handicap at Taree in her 11th start. She was later seventh, second, and fifth against tougher rivals than she will face in this race.

This will be Chase My Crown’s first start since a fifth as the 2-1 favorite at Taree on Feb. 22 in a qualifying race for a lucrative stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in April. Chase My Crown was second in the stretch, but faded to lose by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths against a tougher field than she will face on Monday.

Chase My Crown is part of a field of eight and was the 7-5 favorite as of Saturday, a solid choice over Arctic Wolf (3-1) and Mikado (4-1).

Arctic Wolf, a winner of 3 of 19 starts, is winless in his last five races. A 5-year-old gelding, Arctic Wolf was sixth, beaten about 2 3/4 lengths, in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie on March 10. This will be Arctic Wolf’s debut at Taree.

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Mikado is not a definite starter, but was among the entries as of Saturday. Mikado won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie on Friday and would have the fastest reappearance in his career, if he runs. Such quick turnarounds are not uncommon in some situations in Australian racing.

Taree has an eight-race program beginning at 10:05 p.m. Eastern or 7:05 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Zaaki, Fireburn win rich stakes; Verry Elleegant upset

Zaaki and Fireburn won $3.69 million stakes, while reigning Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant was upset in a Grade 1 stakes in Australia on Saturday.

Zaaki ($4.80) was always near the front in the All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse. Ridden by Jamie Kah, Zaaki took the lead in early stretch and was unbothered in the final furlong, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over I’m Thunderstruck. Streets of Avalon was third in the field of 15.

Zaaki, imported from England in the winter of 2020-2021, is a three-time Group 1 winner in Australia for trainer Annabel Neashem, who opened a stable in 2020. The All-Star Mile was not a group-level stakes. The field is partially determined by a vote of fans.

The All-Star Mile was Zaaki’s second start of 2022, preceded by a second to Inspirational Girl in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at a mile at Flemington on March 5. Inspirational Girl was sixth in the All-Star Mile.

Fireburn ($31.30) won her fourth consecutive start in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds, at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Fireburn closed between rivals in the final furlong to win the Golden Slipper at six furlongs by a widening 2 1/2 lengths over 10-1 Best of Bordeaux. Cooolangatta (the 2-1 favorite) finished third in the field of 16.

Fireburn, trained by Gary Portelli, was fourth in her debut in a maiden race in December, and is unbeaten since, a span that includes the Group 2 Embrace Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 26.

Fireburn is by Rebel Dane, who is by the Danehill stallion California Dane.

Verry Elleegant finished second by two lengths to Montefilia ($12.70) in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on the undercard of the Golden Slipper program.

Ridden by Jason Collett, Montefilia stalked the early pace and was never seriously troubled through the stretch, winning by two lengths over Verry Elleegant, a 1-9 chance ridden by James McDonald.

The Rosehill Gardens turf course was rated as heavy, which McDonald told the Australian press may have contributed to Verry Elleegant’s defeat. Verry Elleegant was named Australian Horse of the year for the 2011-2022. Since earning that award, she won the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington last November.

Montefilia and Verry Elleegant are expected to meet again in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 9.