Australia: Dream Runner makes quick turnaround at Randwick

Last November, Dream Runner was pulled up in the final furlong of a sprint handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse in Australia when the gelding was found to have bled.

The incident marked the end of an otherwise successful 2020 campaign of three wins in his first four starts. Dream Runner returned to racing in June and won in his fourth race of the season in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Aug. 7.

Hardly a week later, on Wednesday, Dream Runner is back at Randwick for an appearance in another handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course.

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Dream Runner, who was 5-1 in early betting on Monday, is part of a full field of 10. Trained by Keith Dryden, Dream Runner will be ridden for the first time since the Hawkesbury race by Tommy Berry. James McDonald, who was aboard Dream Runner on Aug. 7, is booked to ride expected favorite Kutayha for top trainer Chris Waller.

The Aug. 7 race was Dream Runner’s first start at 1 1/8 miles. The 5-year-old gelding closed from ninth in a field of 13 to win by slightly less than a length as the 2-1 favorite.

Kutayha, who also runs from off the pace, has yet to win in two starts at 1 1/8 miles, but was a good second at 4-5 in a handicap at the distance on Kensington course on Aug. 4. Kutayha was beaten slightly more than a length by Yukon, who is part of this Kensington field.

Yukon, who tends to run closer to the front, had his first start at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 4 and has won 3 of 8 starts in his career. Yukon will be ridden by apprentice jockey Brock Ryan, which lowers his weight assignment from 132 pounds to 127.8 pounds. Kutahya carries topweight of 132.8, while Dream Runner carries 131 pounds.

The longshot Dip Me Lid, trained by Dryden, is quick enough to set the pace, and won a handicap race at a mile against lower-class rivals at Sapphire Coast Racecourse on July 25 in his most recent start. Dip Me Lid has not shown to be up to competing against this level in recent starts, however.

The seven-race Kensington program begins at 11:25 p.m., Eastern, or 8:25 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.