Australia: Draft Day will be favored among 13 in Tuesday handicap

Draft Day overcame a tardy start to win his debut at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, last September in what turned out be his lone start of 2021.

The win looks even more attractive six months later as Draft Day nears his second start in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Ballarat Racecourse on Tuesday.

Prowling and Growl, who finished third and fourth behind Draft Day in September, returned to win maiden races. Growl has won twice in his brief career.

Draft Day will be favored in a field of 13 at Ballarat for the father-son training team of Leon and Troy Corstens.

In September, Draft Day was away slowly in the six-furlong race, but recovered quickly to be third in the running. He won by a nose. Damien Oliver was aboard for the race at Sandown and has the mount at Ballarat.

Draft Day was the 6-5 favorite in early betting on Sunday in a large field that lacked a second choice.

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Either Exceed Expect or Hypersonic, who are both returning from layoffs, will be the second choice.

Exceed Expect, a winner of 2 of 5 starts, is quick enough to lead. This will be first start since a fourth-place finish in a six-furlong handicap at Sale in October. Exceed Expect won his debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Ballarat last March.

Hypersonic, a winner of 3 of 9 starts, tends to race as a stalker. A 5-year-old gelding, Hypersonic won a five-furlong handicap last March, but is winless in his last three starts. He was fifth by slightly less than four lengths in a five-furlong handicap on the Parks course at Morphettville Racecourse last June in his most recent start.

Ballarat has an eight-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBETS.com.