Australia: Defiant Diva takes slight drop in class at Sandown

A slight drop in class may propel Defiant Diva to her third win in her last six starts in a handicap for fillies and mares at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday evening across American time zones.

A winner of 4 of 12 starts in her career, Defiant Diva will start at about 9-2 in a field of eight at seven furlongs, judging from early wagering on Monday.

Defiant Diva won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sandown on July 6 in her second start of the year, and was third against a slight tougher group of handicap runners in a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Flemington Racecourse on Aug. 6 after a tardy start.

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Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, Defiant Diva, who tends to run from a stalking position, has been entered in a slightly lower class of handicap runners at Sandown.

Defiant Diva will start from post 4 and will be ridden by regular rider Ethan Brown. Rusutsu, the expected favorite at about 2-1, breaks from post 5, and tends to run from the back of the field. Trained by Peter Moody, Rusutsu won twice in England in 2021 and was sent to Australia last winter.

Winless in six starts in Australia, Rusutsu had her best performance in the country when second in a one-mile handicap for fillies and mares at Caulfield Racecourse on Aug. 13, losing by 1 1/4 lengths.

The field is likely to be in pursuit of the 6-year-old Cyclone Sally, a winner of 8 of 36 starts. Cyclone Sally has won 3 of her last 5 starts, including a 12-1 upset in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Moonee Valley on Aug. 29.

Cyclone Sally will carry top weight of 132 pounds, compared to 125.6 for Rusutsu and 123 for Defiant Diva.

Sandown has an eight-race program beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern or 8 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.