Australia: Deep closer Ghodeleine favored vs. males in 12-horse handicap

Ghodeleine finished with a remarkable rally to be third in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 17, closing from the back of a field of 16 through the stretch to miss by three-quarters of a length.

A 7-year-old mare, Ghodeleine will start in a slightly longer race at Sandown Racecourse on Wednesday in a handicap against males at 1 5/16 miles. She will be favored in a field of 12.

Trained by Andrew Noblet, Ghodeleine should handle the distance, having won a handicap at a distance of a little more than 1 1/4 miles – 2,040 meters to be exact – at Moonee Valley in 2020.

For this race, Ghodeleine will be ridden by Ben Melham, who was aboard the mare once prior for a win in a handicap at a mile at Sandown in 2019. Ghodeleine will start from the rail, which may not be an issue considering her closing style.

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The distance will not be an issue for Gundown, who was second by a half-length in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Sandown on Aug. 1, leading to deep stretch. Gundown, a 7-year-old gelding, has won 4 of 35 starts, but is winless in 14 starts since the Moe Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Moe Racecourse in October 2019.Gundown will be ridden by Jamie Kah, the leading rider at Melbourne area tracks in the 2020-2021 season that ended on July 31.

Gundown will be ridden by Jamie Kah, the leading rider at Melbourne area tracks in the 2020-2021 season that ended on July 31.

Race conditions also favor Duke of Plumpton, a 6-year-old New Zealand-bred who ended a 13-race losing streak with a win in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Cranbourne Racecourse on July 22. Duke of Plumpton tends to run as a stalker, making him less reliant on a specific pace scenario.

Sandown has an eight-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.