Australia: Dominant Lady takes on winners for first time

Dominant Lady was winless in four starts as a 2-year-old in Australia, racing on the Southern Hemisphere calendar for that age group from November to June.

She won her 3-year-old debut in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse on Dec. 5. For her debut against winners in a five-furlong handicap at Scone Racecourse on Monday, Dominant Lady will face older horses as part of a full field of 14.

Trained by Jason Dreamer, Dominant Lady drew post 3 and is likely to be prominent from the start. As of Saturday, Dominant Lady was one of the leading choices in early betting, at 4-1. Christian Reith has the mount and experience with the filly, having been aboard for the Newcastle win.

Dreamer’s stable is in the midst of a successful second half of 2020, having won with 10 of 50 starters from July 19 through Saturday.

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While the race does have older horses, Dominant Lady’s two main rivals are 3-year-old fillies.

Water Dove, another 3-year-old filly, will have her second start in Monday’s race, having won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-olds and older at Dubbo Racecourse on June 28. Trained by Brett Cavanough, Water Dove led throughout her maiden win. If she shows the same style on Monday, Water Dove could provide a target for Reith on Dominant Lady.

Jeff Penza has the mount on Water Dove. He was aboard the filly for a training race before her debut. Chad Lever rode Water Dove in her first start.

The five-furlong handicap is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

Of the runners with more experience, Baiyka merits support. Also a 3-year-old filly, Baiyka won her fifth start in a maiden race at five furlongs at Scone on Dec. 11 and makes a quick turnaround. She set the pace in that race, but has also been effective as a stalker.