Australia: Don't Forget Dad brings solid form to one-mile handicap
Don’t Forget Dad was in the midst of an anonymous career in Australia before the gelding was moved from trainer Daniel Bowman to Mark Stewart earlier this year.
Since then, Don’t Forget Dad has won the first two races of his career and finished second between those victories in a span of three starts.
The successful run of recent form makes Don’t Forget Dad a key contender in a one-mile handicap at Grafton Racecourse on Sunday evening across American time zones. Don’t Forget Dad is one of three leading runners in a field of 10 along with the gelding Eyes to Eye and filly Cassia Lane.
The one-mile handicap is the first of eight races at Grafton on a program that begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
A 5-year-old gelding, Don’t Forget Dad, who has had 15 starts, beat winners for the first time in a one-mile handicap at Gosford on July 23, always racing near the front and prevailing by slightly more than neck. Jockey Winona Costin was aboard for the win and has the mount at Grafton.
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At Grafton, Don’t Forget Dad is likely to have company near the front from Eyes to Eye, the winner of a handicap at about 7 1/4 furlongs at Lismore Racecourse on July 29. Eyes to Eye led throughout and won by a convincing three lengths to end an eight-race losing streak.
Eyes to Eye, a winner of 2 of 11 starts, changed trainers earlier this year and had his second start for Ethan Ensby at Lismore.
Cassia Lane deserves to be well supported following a recent win. A 4-year-old, Cassia Lane ended a seven-race losing streak with a victory in a one-mile handicap at Inverell Racecourse on July 30. Cassia Lane closed from sixth of 11 to win by three-quarters of a length.
Cassia Lane is based at Grafton with trainer John Shelton, who has had the filly throughout her career. A winner of 2 of 13 starts, Cassia Lane is winless in four starts at Grafton in her career, including a second in a five-furlong maiden race last October and a seventh in a field of 12 in a seven-furlong handicap on July 13.
Cassia Lane raced on the inside throughout the July 13 race and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths for second.