Australia: Denetta has good chance at Muswellbrook

Denetta ran to expectations when she finished 12th of 15 at 100-1 in the restricted Provincial Championship Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on April 8.

An appearance in the $332,500 race was worth a try after Denetta qualified with a good second at 40-1 in a trial race at Hawkesbury on March 4.

Denetta’s time as a longshot ends, at least briefly, when she starts in a handicap for fillies and mares at 7 1/4 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Thursday evening. She was the 7-2 second choice in a field of eight as of Wednesday.

Trained by Damien Lane, Denetta is winless in six starts since July when she won a handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook, the last of three consecutive wins. In each of the wins, Denetta closed from off the pace.

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At Muswellbrook, Denetta’s main rival will be pacesetter Takara Star, who will be favored on the strength of consecutive wins in a maiden race on March 10 and a handicap on March 31, both at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook.

Those are Takara Star’s only wins in six starts.

Maly Malt, a winner of her last two starts, and What a Peach, third in a seven-furlong handicap earlier this month, have excellent chances.

Maly Malt won one-mile handicaps in November and December, and will have her 2023 debut at Muswellbrook. A winner of 4 of 11 starts, Maly Malt has won following a layoff in the past, in a seven-furlong handicap at Scone last August in her first start in four months.

What a Peach is winless in her last seven starts but her recent placings suggest she can have a top three finish from off the pace.

Muswellbrook has an eight-race program beginning at 10:40 p.m. Eastern or 7:40 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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