Australia: Eagle Farm Racecourse stakes too close to call

As of Thursday, it was difficult to predict the favorite for the $86,500 Bright Shadow Stakes or $58,850 Tattersall’s Club Stakes at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Australia on Saturday.

There were too many contenders.

Australian bookmakers had 5-1 favorites in both races on Thursday, and that could easily change before racing.

Multaja, a 4-year-old Australian-bred filly who won two stakes in 2019, was a slight favorite in the Bright Shadow Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, Multaja is winless in her last nine starts, including a fifth by 1 1/2 lengths in the Coughlan Stakes at Doomben Racecourse on May 30.

Multaja is a closer and will start from post 9 in a field of 14. Jamaican Rain, 6-1 on Thursday, drew the rail, and is expected to take her customary position near the front. Jamaican Rain has not started since a win in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Sandown Racecourse last November.

The Bright Shadow Stakes will be the second start after a layoff of nearly four months for Jami Lady, who won a five-furlong handicap at Eagle Farm on June 6 for her sixth win in 18 starts. Jami Lady was 5.5-1 on Thursday.

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Circumstances were similar for the Tattersall’s Club Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at seven furlongs, with Queen Sweeper and Tumbler Ridge 5-1 co-favorites on Thursday.

The filly Queen Sweeper won a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs in her sixth start on June 27 and makes a rapid turnaround for this race. Tumbler Ridge was fourth by three-quarters of a length in the Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 13 in his stakes debut.

The Tattersall’s Club Stakes, which has a field of 11 including seven fillies, will be the second start for Zero to Hundred, who won her debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on June 17. Zero to Hundred closed from last of seven to win by a length. Jockey James Orman replaces Kerrin McEvoy, who is riding at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

First post time at Eagle Farm is 9:43 p.m., Eastern, or 6:43 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.