Australia: Dio D'Oro looks to build on last in Vale Might and Power Handicap

There was little wrong with the runner-up finish by Dio D’Oro in a handicap on April 8 at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.

Dio D’Oro was 40-1 and finished second by a neck to 5-2 favorite Royal Celebration in a one-mile race.

Wednesday, bettors may easily focus on Dio D’Oro in the Vale Might and Power Handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick. Randwick holds many of Australia’s leading races, such as four Group 1 races last Saturday. The Kensington course is the track’s inner-most turf course.

Wednesday’s races were scheduled to be run at Hawkesbury Racecourse on the outskirts of Sydney, but were transferred recently to the Kensington course.

First post is 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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The Vale Might and Power Handicap is the fifth race on an eight-race program. Dio D’Oro, a 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, is part of a field of nine and will be ridden by jockey James McDonald. In February, McDonald rode Dio D’Oro to a second in a handicap at seven furlongs at Warwick Farm.

Dio D’Oro, trained by Gary Portelli, tends to run near the front, a style that has led to four wins in 23 starts. Dio D’Oro is winless in five starts since a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Canterbury in February.

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Dio D’Oro will carry 131 pounds, four less than topweight Milk Man, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Kitten’s Joy. Milk Man began his career in France, where he had two wins in 2017 and 2018. Racing in Australia, Milk Man is winless in six starts since August.

Race conditions on Wednesday should suit Commander, a winner at 7 3/4 furlongs at Kensington last August. A 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, Commander was 11th of 14, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, against a tougher field in the Muswellbrook Cup at 7 1/2 furlongs on March 27 in his second start of 2020.

Commander will carry 132 pounds.