Australia: Detonator Jack eyeing an even bigger payday in Ingham Handicap

From one lucrative mile handicap to another, the New Zealand-bred gelding Detonator Jack is finishing 2023 in the best form of his career in Australia.

A 5-year-old, Detonator Jack won the richest race of his career in the $650,600 The Gong Stakes at a mile at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Nov. 25 by 2 1/4 lengths.

He can win a bigger prize in the Group 2 Ingham Handicap, a $1.32 million race at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday evening.

In early betting on Thursday, Detonator Jack was the 3-1 favorite, a relatively short price in what is expected to be a full field of 20. Considering his form in the last few months, the price is justified.

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Prior to winning The Gong Stakes, Detonator Jack was second by a nose in the $630,000 Diamond Prelude Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 21, and second by a half-length in the $1.27 million Alan Brown Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 11.

In all of his recent starts, Detonator Jack has closed from well off the pace.

With a big field in the Ingham, a solid pace is expected. The Ingham is part of a 10-race program beginning at 8:20 p.m. Eastern or 5:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The field includes Osipenko, third by 2 1/2 lengths as the 3-1 favorite in The Gong Stakes. In September, Osipenko was third to the ultra-tough Australian miler Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Under the conditions of the Ingham, Detonator Jack will carry 127.8 pounds, slightly less than topweight Cepheus at 132. Osipenko will carry 126.7 pounds, while the contender Lion’s Roar has a favorable assignment of 118.

Lion’s Roar was a fast-closing second in the $320,000 Little Dance Stakes at a mile at Randwick on Nov. 3. He was 15th in a field of 20 for the first half of the race before losing by slightly more than a length.

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