Australia: Distance a question for favorites in Bathurst handicap
Caring Lass, Lehndorff, and Not Too Bad were all winners of their last starts in Australia in late November and early December in a similar manner, racing near the front throughout races at a mile.
They meet for the first time in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Bathurst Racecourse on Sunday evening, starting at a distance that may pose a test for a few of them.
Caring Lass, a 4-year-old filly, won for the third time in her 13th start at Canberra on Dec. 1, closing from fourth in a field of six. Caring Lass has never raced at 1 1/8 miles, but did win a handicap at 1 5/16 miles in May by racing from off the pace.
Lehndorff, a 5-year-old gelding, won for the second time in his ninth start in a handicap at Scone on Nov. 20. Lehndorff finished eighth of 11 in his only previous start at 1 1/8 miles, in a handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick in Sydney on May 10. He set the early pace before fading.
Not Too Bad, a 5-year-old gelding, is the veteran of the trio. He won for the sixth time in his 25-race career at Narromine on Dec. 5, racing in a stalking position before winning by a neck.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
Not Too Bad had finished second by about a neck in a handicap at a mile at Gunnison on Dec. 2 and was required to pass a pre-race veterinary examination before being allowed to race on Dec. 5.
Not Too Bad won a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Wellington last March and was fourth in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Mudgee in April, losing by about 1 3/4 lengths.
In early betting on Saturday, Caring Lass and Lehndorff were co-favorites at 5-2, while Not Too Bad was well-supported at 7-2.
Caring Lass’s experience at longer distances may give her an edge in this field.
Bathurst has a seven-race program beginning at 9:50 p.m. Eastern, or 6:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.