Australia: Different Strokes drops in class for handicap at Wyong Racecourse

For the time being, the Australian gelding Different Strokes has been relieved of tough race assignments.

After finishing 17th in a field of 18 as the 2-1 favorite in the $526,400 Four Pillars Stakes last October, and eighth of 14 in a regional stakes qualifier at Newcastle on March 26 in his first start of 2022, Different Strokes will take a significant drop in class in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on Thursday.

The handicap drew a field of 10 and is part of an eight-race program that begins at 10:55 p.m. Eastern or 7:55 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Different Strokes, trained by Kim Waugh, has won 3 of 8 starts, including consecutive races last September and October in handicaps at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong and seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Different Strokes was favored in both races, and won from a stalking position.

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For this race, Different Strokes will be ridden for the first time by apprentice jockey Patrick Scorse, who rode the 4-year-old in a training race earlier this year.

Different Strokes is likely to be in pursuit of expected pacesetter Game Theory, a winner of 2 of 10 starts, including a six-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse on March 12 that ended an eight-race losing streak.

The 3-year-old Never Cry is the only other runner in the field with a win in his last start. A winner of 2 of 9 starts, Never Cry won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on March 24, closing from fourth in a field of nine as the 5-2 favorite.

Sing a Love Song was 10th of 12 at 20-1 in the Canberra Guineas at seven furlongs at Canberra Racecourse on March 14, but a more competitive third in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse on Feb. 24.

Sing a Love Song won a maiden race at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong in February in his only previous start at the track. Along with Different Strokes, Sing a Love Song rates as a runner to watch from slightly off the pace.