Australia: Edmond needs to relax and then finish at Warwick

Edmond was an eager gelding midway through a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in Australia on Dec. 8.

Edmond raced closer to the front than expected and was unable to sustain the effort, fading to finish third by a little more than two lengths.

A six-time winner, Edmond will have his second start of December in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening. He is part of a field of nine.

While Edmond may again race near the front, he should have pace to follow from Lemaire, another contender.

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They are the biggest threats to a deserving favorite in Master Copy, a closer who was beaten a short head in a one-mile handicap as the 4-5 favorite at Newcastle on Dec. 2.

Edmond will be ridden by Tyler Schiller, who has been aboard the 6-year-old gelding in two starts in recent months. Edmond won a seven-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury on Nov. 23, his first start after a seven-month rest, by closing from sixth in a field of nine.

The race at Warwick Farm represents a rise in class from Edmond’s win at Hawkesbury, but a drop in class from his recent loss at Canterbury Park.

Schiller told the stewards at Canterbury that Edmond pulled him toward the lead more aggressively than expected.

Master Copy was unlucky not to win for the third time in his 14-race career at Newcastle. He closed from six length off the pace with an intense rush to just miss winning on soft turf.

The turf course at Warwick Farm is expected to be good for this race, conditions that should suit Master Copy.

Lemaire is quick enough to lead, but the distance may be an issue. Lemaire has never won beyond seven furlongs, and is winless in three career starts at a mile.

Warwick Farm has a seven-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.