Australia: Conditions favor Savigne at Royal Randwick

Bettors were expecting a big performance from the 4-year-old Australian-bred filly Savigne when she won her second start following a seven-month layoff at Canterbury Racecourse on June 24.

Savigne was the 2-1 favorite, and closed from third to win a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs by 1 1/2 lengths on heavy turf.

The forecast in the Sydney area calls for a wet day on Wednesday when Savigne starts as the favorite in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The turf course is expected to be heavy.

This will be the quickest turnaround for Savigne in her career. A winner of 2 of 14 starts, Savigne is trained by Chris Waller and will carry 124.5 pounds, a friendly assignment compared to the 134.4-pound impost assigned to topweight Dylan’s Romance.

Savigne, who tends to run as a stalker, is starting at 1 1/8 miles for the second time, having finished second in a maiden race at the distance in May 2019. Later that month, Savigne won a maiden race at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury, indicating stamina will not be an issue on Wednesday.

The presence of the 5-year-old gelding Chocolatier is a greater concern. Chocolatier has won 2 of 5 starts at 1 1/8 miles. He won a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury on May 27, and was seventh of 14 in a handicap at a mile at Randwick on June 20 against a better class of runners than he faces on Wednesday.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Chocolatier will carry 132 pounds, two pounds more than Picaro, who is a threat from off the pace. Picaro was sixth in the same race as Chocolatier at Randwick on June 20 in his second start following a three-month layoff. Picaro has won twice at 1 1/8 miles in five starts at the distance.

First post time for the seven-race Randwick program is 10:50 p.m., Eastern, or 7:50 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.