Australia: Competitive field of 15 to line up in Civil City Handicap

Espirito was 1 1/4 lengths from qualifying for a $334,000 restricted stakes in April when he finished third in a lucrative six-furlong trial at Gosford Park last Thursday.

The $49,800 Civil City Handicap at about six furlongs at Albury Racecourse on Wednesday evening serves as a consolation.

Trained by Paul Murray, Espirito is part of a competitive field of 15 at Albury in a race that lacks a defined favorite. As of early Tuesday, Espirito and Super Helpful were 5-1 co-favorites, closely followed by Riddlero and Hardware Lane at 6-1.

Espirito has won 4 of 14 starts, and has won once in four starts this year - a six-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm. Espirito has set the pace in recent starts, but has won from a tracking position. If sent to the front, Espirito could face pressure from the outsiders Real Key and Flying Sultan, who have shown speed recently.

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Super Helpful has shown the versatility to run from off the pace and near the front. A winner of 7 of 20 starts, Super Helpful won his 2023 debut in a six-furlong handicap at Canberra on Feb. 24, when he closed from off the pace. He finished fourth in the listed National Sprint Stakes at seven furlongs at Canberra on March 12 after he set the pace. Super Helpful faded in the final furlong of that race to lose by four lengths.

Hardware Lane is trained at Albury by Mitchell Beer, and that home course familiarity is a plus. Hardware Lane has won 2 of 4 career starts at Albury, and was third in his last appearance there, a five-furlong handicap on Feb. 25 when beaten 2 3/4 lengths, closing from fourth in a field of nine.

The Civil City Handicap is the top race on the first day of a two-day meeting that ends on Thursday evening with a program highlighted by the $133,000 Albury Cup.

Albury has a seven-race program beginning at 11:10 p.m. Eastern or 8:10 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.