Australia: Criminal Code tries to break dry spell in Yarra Valley Cup

For a strong favorite, the Australian gelding Criminal Code has something to prove in Sunday’s Yarra Valley Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Yarra Valley Racecourse.

Criminal Code is winless in 10 starts since a one-mile handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney last July. During the losing streak, Criminal Code has been second or third in two stakes, including a third in the Mornington Cup Prelude at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield on Feb. 26 in his latest start.

While the stakes form does hold appeal, Criminal Code will need to be at his best to win the Yarra Valley Cup, which drew a field of seven. Trained by Chris Waller, Criminal Code has not won beyond a mile in his 26-race career, which includes three wins.

Criminal Code was 9-5 in early betting on Sunday, a slight choice over Pancho at 3-1. Look Closely was third in the odds at 9-2.

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Pancho, also trained by Waller, won a lucrative handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley last August, but is winless in his last four starts. Pancho was fourth in a handicap at Caulfield on Feb. 5 at 1 1/8 miles and may need the longer distance of the Yarra Valley Cup to be a factor.

Look Closely won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington on Jan. 15, but was only seventh of nine against a better class of handicap runners at 1 1/2 miles at Caulfield on Feb. 5. A closer, Look Closely has won four races at 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles in his 14-race career. The Yarra Valley Cup distance should be a good fit for the 6-year-old British-bred gelding.

Yarra Valley has an eight-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.