Australia: The classy Graff faces some sharp rivals in Standish Handicap at Flemington

Graff, a 5-year-old Australian-bred horse, won his first group-level stakes in the Group 2 Caulfield Stakes at five furlongs on Oct. 17 in Melbourne, Australia, only to finish sixth in the Group 1 VRC Classic at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 7.

Graff starts in Friday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington, which would seem to be an ideal drop in class from those starts. But the presence of red-hot rivals Defiant Dancer and Sirius Suspect will make for a more difficult assignment for Graff in the $122,880 Standish.

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Trained by Danny O’Brien, Graff will carry top weight of 131 pounds against seven rivals in the Standish who have assignments ranging from 119 to 122.3 pounds.

Defiant Dancer, a winner of 5 of 16 starts, will carry 119 pounds, the lowest weight allowed. The Standish will be the second start in a group stakes for Defiant Dancer, who is trained by Philip Stokes.

Defiant Dancer has won his last four starts, all in handicaps at five to seven furlongs since late June. Defiant Dancer was seventh in the Group 3 Guineas Prelude Stakes in September 2019. On Dec. 19, Defiant Dancer was the three-length winner of a six-furlong handicap at Flemington, closing from fourth in a field of 12 as the 3-2 favorite.

Sirius Suspect, who tends to race near the front, was third in the Group 3 MSS Security Sprint at six furlongs at Flemington on the Melbourne Cup undercard on Nov. 3. Sirius Suspect, who will also carry 119 pounds in the Standish, returned to win a six-furlong handicap at Pakenham on Dec. 5.

The eight-race program at Flemington begins at 10:25 p.m., Eastern, or 7:25 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

In the race preceding the Standish, Miyake, a 4-year-old colt by Deep Impact, will be favored to win his third consecutive race in the $115,200 Bagot Handicap at 1 3/4 miles, a listed stakes. This is a new distance for Miyake, who won a six-figure handicap at about 1 9/16 miles at Flemington on Dec. 12.

Tralee Rose, a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred filly, was second to Miyake on Dec. 12, ending a three-race winning streak. Tralee Rose is starting in the longest race of her career in the Bagot Handicap, which drew a field of nine.