Australia: Class drop may put Stratum Pride over the top at Canberra

A sharp drop in class may help the 4-year-old Australian filly Stratum Pride end a four-race losing streak in a competitive handicap going a mile at Canberra Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Stratum Pride is a winner of 3 of 19 starts, but is winless in four appearances at Canberra where she is based with trainer Keith Dryden.

Stratum Pride has been second or third in three of those starts at Canberra, including a third in a tougher class of handicap runners on March 13. In that one-mile race, Stratum Pride closed from fifth to lose by 1 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 favorite.

Thursday’s race at Canberra drew a full field of 16. Stratum Pride starts from post 6, which should help her closing style.

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The 6-year-old mare Sumdeel can be a factor from off the pace. Winless in her last four starts, Sumdeel was eight of nine at 20-1 against a tougher group in the Albury Mile at Albury Racecourse on March 23 in her second start of the year. Sumdeel has won twice at a mile in her 26-race career and once at 1 1/8 miles in a lucrative handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney last August.

Super Vino, a 6-year-old gelding, may set the pace, but seems more likely to be placed than win. Super Vino was third in a one-mile handicap at Nowra Racecourse on Jan. 8 in his first start of the year. He raced from a tracking position in that race, but was near the front in a seven-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse on March 10 before fading in the final furlong to finish sixth by two lengths.

Super Vino could be a target for closers such as Stratum Pride.

Canberra has a nine-race program beginning at 10:10 p.m. Eastern or 7:10 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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