Australia: Dhakuri a strong favorite in Warwick Farm handicap

There are clues in the recent race record that Dhakuri, a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, can develop into a successful stayer in Australia for trainer James Cummings and Godolphin Racing.

Dhakuri won a maiden race at 1 1/8 miles last November and a handicap at about 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 17 at Newcastle. The Newcastle race was Dhakuri’s second start of a late 2021 campaign that continues on Monday in a handicap at about 1 5/16 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney.

The mount of top jockey James McDonald, Dhakuri is expected to be a strong favorite in a field of eight in the second race of an eight-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

This will not be the longest race of Dhakuri’s career, which includes two wins in nine starts. Last December, Dhakuri was eighth of 13 in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at 1 3/8 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, a result that cannot be judged too harshly considering he did not race again until April.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

This distance is a good fit for Our Bambino, who is winless in his last five starts since a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Hawkesbury Racecourse in April. Our Bambino finished fifth of six, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles on Sept. 22 at Gosford Park.

Of the others, Torrens takes a considerable class drop after a rough patch in recent weeks in which he finished last of 14 in the Grade 3 Newcastle Cup at 1 7/16 miles on Sept. 17, and ninth of 13 in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on Sept. 25 at Rosehill Gardens.

This is a rapid turnaround for Torrens, who has won 6 of 23 starts. He scored a 25-1 upset in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on Aug. 21 at Royal Randwick Racecourse, emphasizing his ability at a distance.

Incentivise wins Turnbull, points to Caulfield Cup

Incentivise won his second consecutive Group 1 race and extended his winning streak to eight races in Saturday’s $721,000 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Incentivise, who paid $6 as the second choice in American pools, was always near the front and won by a half-length over 25-1 Young Werther, who closed from sixth of nine. Chapada (50-1) finished third, while even-money favorite Verry Elleegant could only finish fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

Verry Elleegant is the leading contender for Australian Horse of the Year for the 2020-21 season that ended in July.

Incentivise, who was ridden by Brett Prebble for trainer Peter Moody, has won 8 of 11 starts. A 5-year-old gelding by the Snitzel stallion Shamus Award, Incentivise’s winning streak began with a win in a maiden race at a mile in April and includes three group stakes wins.

Incentivise is scheduled to start in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 16 at Caulfield Racecourse, one of Australia’s top handicaps.