Australia: Crackalacka looks to extend streak at Moruya
The Australian filly Crackalacka returned to racing after a seven-month break in November in the best form of her career.
Crackalacka had a single win in her first six starts, but has won twice in recent months – in six-furlong races at Sapphire Coast Racecourse on Nov. 29 and Dec. 27.
For her first start of 2022, Crackalacka starts in a six-furlong handicap at Moruya Racecourse, a seaside course south of Sydney, with a chance to extend the winning streak.
Trained by Theresa Bateup, Crackalacka will be ridden by Brock Ryan, who was aboard for the Dec. 27 win. Crackalacka will start from the rail in a field of eight, a draw that is likely to lead Ryan to put the 4-year-old filly toward the back of the field. Crackalacka closed from well off the pace in her recent wins.
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The race lacks a confirmed frontrunner although the well-regarded Pindarra’s Dream has run near the front in recent starts in five-furlong races. A winner of 4 of 22 starts, Pindarra’s Dream is also trained by Bateup and should have some class relief in this field.
Pindarra’s Dream was ninth of 12 in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Jan. 1. Technically, the Randwick race and Thursday’s race at Moruya are the same class level, but a weekend race at Randwick has a better purse and typically draws a much tougher field than a weekday program at Moruya.
Pindarra’s Dream won consecutive starts in five-furlong races last March, but is winless in her last seven races. She has yet to win in five career starts at six furlongs.
Blaazay, a lightly raced 6-year-old gelding trained at Moruya by John Gamble, certainly likes the track. Blaazay has won 3 of 7 starts at Moruya, which represents all of the wins in his 13-race career. Blaazay was third in a handicap at six furlongs at Moruya on Jan. 3 at 6-1.
In this field, Blaazay was 3-1 in early betting on Tuesday behind Pindarra’s Dream at 2-1 and Crackalacka at 5-2.
Moruya has a seven-race program beginning at 9:39 p.m. Eastern or 6:39 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.