Australia: Distance no problem for Mr Blackwood
Three races into his career, Mr Blackwood has already shown an affinity for distance races in Australia.
On Jan. 18, Mr Blackwood won a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles by a commanding 4 3/4 lengths at Moe Racecourse as the 6-5 favorite. The win has led to a start in an even more demanding race, a handicap at 1 7/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Mr Blackwood, a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, will carry 122.3 pounds, considerably less than topweights Guns Ablazing and Blandford Lad at 130 pounds. Guns Ablazing will have his 20th start at Sandown in an attempt for a fifth win. Blandford Lad has won 5 of 34 starts.
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The marathon race is the fifth on an eight-race program that begins at 11:40 p.m. Eastern or 8:40 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Mr Blackwood, who is trained by Cindy Alderson, was fourth and seventh in maiden races at 7 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles in November and December before the breakthrough win at Moe against five rivals. Mr Blackwood closed from fourth in that field.
Ethan Brown rode Mr Blackwood for the first time at Moe and has the mount at Sandown.
Guns Ablazing and Blandford Lad should handle the distance.
Guns Ablazing was third in a handicap at 1 7/8 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Dec. 31, but sixth of seven against a much tougher group in a handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Moonee Valley on Jan. 22. Guns Ablazing has won at 1 7/8 miles.
Blandford Lad was fourth in a handicap at 1 7/8 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on Jan. 14, closing from ninth to lose by 4 1/2 lengths. Blandford Lad’s longest win was at 1 5/8 miles.
Aside from the topweights, Etheridge, who will carry 119 pounds, is rated as the most significant threat to Mr Blackwood. The mount of veteran big-race rider Craig Williams, Etheridge was sixth of 11 at 60-1 in the restricted $710,000 Magic Millions Trophy at 1 1/2 miles at Gold Coast Racecourse on Jan. 15.
A 6-year-old mare, Etheridge has won 3 of 30 starts, and is winless in her last 15 starts, since winning a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Warwick Farm last February. This race at Sandown will be the longest race of her career.