Australia: Chenin returns to more comfortable level in Warwick Farm handicap

After a failed attempt at a group stakes, the Australian filly Chenin will be favored to win for the third time in her 12th start in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Trained by Mark Newnham, Chenin finished 13th of 14 in the Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Gosford Racecourse on Dec. 28. The poor finish ended a streak of four top-three finishes in minor handicaps, including a win in a one-mile race at Warwick Farm on Dec. 7.

Chenin tends to run near the front and could have conditions in her favor in a field of eight at Warwick Farm on Tuesday evening. The race lacks any other confirmed pacesetters.

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Warwick Farm has a seven-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The 6-year-old mare Bowery Breeze drew the rail, and will need a clean trip to be a factor. Bowery Breeze was sixth by 2 1/4 lengths in a tougher handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs against males at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 26.

Bowery Breeze raced wide, and drifted to the inside slightly in early stretch, but recovered to be closest to the front at the finish. Bowery Breeze has won 4 of 34 starts, but is winless in 15 starts since a six-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm in June 2021.

The handicap will be the Australian debut for the 4-year-old Irish-bred colt Claim the Crown, a winner of 2 of 7 starts in Europe in the last two years. Now trained by Annabel Neasham, Claim the Crown was third in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes for 2-year-olds at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris in 2021.

In three starts in Britain in 2022, Claim the Crown won once, in a minor handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Ripon last July in his final start in the country.

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