Australia: Dame Kiri ends layoff with handicap at Newcastle

Returning from a five-month layoff, Dame Kiri starts for the seventh time in her career at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia in a six-furlong handicap on Tuesday. The venue and the rest should work in favor of the 5-year-old Australian-bred mare.

Dame Kiri has won 2 of 4 starts after a layoff in her 22-race career, which includes four wins. At Newcastle, Dame Kiri has one win in six starts and has been second or third in four other races.

Tuesday’s race drew a field of 11. Dame Kiri will be ridden for the first time by Andrew Gibbons, who had six wins from 50 mounts from Oct. 27 through Saturday, but did not have a win in that span after Nov. 12.

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Dame Kiri won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on June 7 and was second in a one-mile handicap at Newcastle on June 27 before being given a rest during the Southern Hemisphere winter and early spring.

Dame Kiri tends to run from off the pace and is likely to be in pursuit of expected favorite Paquirri, who tends to run closer to the front. Paquirri has won 2 of 26 starts. Winless in his last three races, Paquirri was fourth in a six-furlong handicap at Canterbury Park on Nov. 13, losing by 1 1/4 lengths to the 17-1 shot Coolotta.

All From Scrap is likely to have a more-forward position and figures to play an important role. A 7-year-old gelding, All From Scrap was second in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Nov. 12, his third consecutive loss.

All From Scrap won a six-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Sept. 14, closing from a stalking position. General Soho and Ligulate, who were second and third in that race, have subsequently won.

First post time at Newcastle Racecourse is 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.