Australia: Danluca tries to win back-to-back starts for first time in Sale Racecourse handicap

Danluca is a 6-year-old Australian-bred gelding who has excelled in long-distance handicaps in that country this year.

Danluca was second by a nose in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Mornington Racecourse on Jan. 1, and won a handicap at the same distance at Moe Racecourse on Jan. 20, ending a six-race losing streak.

Danluca has won 3 of 25 starts in a career that began in late 2017, and has never won consecutive starts. The opportunity is present in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Sale Racecourse in the state of Victoria on Friday.

The handicap drew a field of 13. Danluca is the only runner with a win in his last start.

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Trained by Jackson Pallot, Danluca has not raced at Sale since Feb. 20, 2018 when he was fifth in a maiden race at 1 3/8 miles. He was second in a maiden race at Sale in his previous start that year.

Apprentice jockey Laura Lafferty will ride Danluca. Lafferty has been in high demand in recent weeks. She won with 6 of 50 mounts from Jan. 12 through Wednesday.

Rivals such as Black Beau Tie, Obedience, and Saving can post a threat to Danluca, who runs from off the pace.

Black Beau Tie raced against tougher fields at tracks in Melbourne from late November to early January, with a third at Sandown Racecourse in December his best finish in that span. Black Beau Tie was sixth in a one-mile handicap at Pakenham on Jan. 21, a distance that seems shorter than his best trip.

Obedience, a 4-year-old filly, was third in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne on Jan. 25, closing with interest. This is her first start at 1 3/8 miles.

Saving, who runs closer to the front, was 10th in a handicap at 1 7/8 miles against a tougher field at Moonee Valley on Jan. 15, and will be taking a significant drop in class here.

The Sale program begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.