Australia: Dreamdeel gets ideal distance

Dreamdeel has won two of three career starts at a mile in Australia and a return to that distance for the first time since August in the minor Krambach Cup at Taree Racecourse on Thursday evening may end a three-race losing streak at longer distances.

A winner of 4 of 21 starts, Dreamdeel is part of a field of nine in the Krambach Cup and was the co-favorite at 5-2 with Scorched Land in early betting as of Wednesday.

Dreamdeel won his last start at a mile, in a handicap at Wyong Racecourse in August. In his last two starts, both at 1 5/16 miles, Dreamdeel was second by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths in the Tuncurry Cup at Tuncurry Racecourse on Sept. 8, but fifth of sixth, beaten 16 1/2 lengths, in a handicap at Wyong on Sept. 28.

Dreamdeel, who is quick enough to lead, won his only previous start at Taree, in a seven-furlong maiden race last October. The Krambach Cup will be Dreamdeel’s 15th start of the year, a campaign that includes two wins.

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Scorched Land is a winner of 7 of 43 starts, but is in the midst of an eight-race losing streak since a win in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury last December. Scorched Land was third by a half-length in a one-mile handicap at Taree on Sept. 24, racing on the rail early. Scorched Land was moved outside in the stretch and closed well to just miss.

The Krambach Cup will be the Taree debut for the five-time winner Shaka Rock, who finished third by three-quarters of a length in the Cootamundra Cup at Cootamundra Racecourse on Oct. 1 after leading in the stretch of the one-mile race.

The Krambach Cup is part of an eight-race program at Taree that begins at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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