Australia: Designs could move forward off prep in Kyneton Cup

With the benefit of a mid-October prep race, the 5-year-old mare Designs appears well positioned to win for the third time in her last five starts in the Kyneton Cup at Bendigo Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday evening across American time zones.

A winner of 4 of 20 starts, Designs won consecutive handicaps at 1 9/16 miles at Cranbourne in mid-March and Morphettville in early April before finishing second by 4 1/2 lengths as the 7-5 favorite in the Port Adelaide Cup at the same distance on May 7.

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Designs did not race again until she finished second by a half-length in handicap at a mile at Moe Racecourse on Oct. 14, a distance below her best trip this year.

The Kyneton Cup is run at 1 3/8 miles and drew a field of seven.

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Designs was 2-1 in early betting on Monday morning, the second choice behind Rousseau at 8-5.

Bendigo has a nine-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Rousseau, trained by Chris Waller, has won 6 of 31 starts, but is winless in his last five races. A 5-year-old gelding, Rousseau was fourth by slightly less than 2 1/2 lengths in the Port Macquarie Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Oct. 7.

Designs tends to run near the front and could have company in that position from Silent Command, a 4-1 chance who won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville on Oct. 8 to end a 10-race losing streak since September 2021.

Rousseau is effective near the lead or as a stalker and should be well-positioned in early stretch.