Australia: Despite outside post Deep Shimmer a good fit at Wagga Wagga
Facing a largely inconsistent field, the 4-year-old filly Deep Shimmer has a leading chance to win for the third time in her last four starts in a five-furlong handicap at Wagga Wagga Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening.
Deep Shimmer won a maiden race in her third start in April and followed two weeks later with a third-place finish in her debut against winners. Rested for nearly four months, Deep Shimmer returned to racing with a win by a head in a handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs at Goulburn Racecourse on Aug. 14.
At Wagga Wagga, Deep Shimmer drew the outside in an original field of 12, and has been helped slightly by two early scratches. The filly tends to race near the front. Five-furlong races at Wagga Wagga start from a chute on the backstretch and join the main track on the turn.
Deep Shimmer did not have a rider as of Tuesday, but whoever does take the mount will have to be cognizant of saving some ground early.
While Deep Shimmer is drawn wide, the 8-year-old gelding Backwater Trader starts from the inside, which could be an issue. Backwater Trader tends to run from off the pace, which will require jockey Hannah Williams to find a clear path in the abbreviated race.
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Backwater Trader is winless in four starts since April, including a fourth-place finish by 1 ½ lengths in a race at this level at Wagga Wagga on July 24. Backwater Trader closed from 10th in a field of 11 despite a wide trip in that race.
Spinosaurus and Galbalan are other contenders.
Spinosaurus has finished fourth and ninth against tougher competition in his last two starts, and was third in early July in his last race at this level.
Galbalan has not started since a third-place finish in a handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs at Albury on May 22. In his 19-race career, he has yet to win following a layoff, but has finished second or third three times in five such scenarios.
Wagga Wagga has an eight-race program beginning at 11:10 p.m. Eastern or 8:10 p.m. Pacific. The five-furlong handicap is the fourth race on the card. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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