Australia: Empowerment to find competition at Port Macquarie to her liking
The Australian filly Empowerment, who starts in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Friday, had tough assignments in December and earlier this month in her first two starts following a four-month layoff.
Empowerment finished sixth in two lucrative sale progeny races at Wyong and Gold Coast racecourses, going off as a longshot in each start. At Gold Coast on Jan. 8, Empowerment was not beaten far – 2 3/4 lengths - in a race for 3- and 4-year-old fillies.
A start at Port Macquarie, well north of Sydney on the Australian east coast, should be much easier for Empowerment, who won consecutive starts in six-furlong handicaps in a span of eight days last July and early August. Empowerment finished third later in August before being given a rest.
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At Port Macquarie, Empowerment is part of a field of 14 in the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
A winner of 3 of 13 starts, Empowerment is quick enough to lead, but also effective as a stalker. Mikayla Weir, who rode Empowerment to a win in August, has the mount. Trained by Tracey Bartley, Empowerment starts from post 7, which will give Weir tactical options in the first half of the race.
Empowerment was the 9-2 second choice in early betting on Wednesday behind 7-2 Oh Say, a 4-year-old by Starspangledbanner. Oh Say is trained by Neil Godbolt, who is based at Port Macquarie.
Oh Say has won 4 of 16 starts, and 3 of 5 starts at Port Macquarie, including a six-furlong handicap as the 2-1 favorite on Jan. 1. Oh Say was always near the front in that race and won by two lengths.
The 5-year-old mare Cool Missile is another Port Macquarie specialist. She has won 4 of 20 starts in her career and 3 of 4 appearances at Port Macquarie. Cool Missile, trained by Dale Wagstaff, won a six-furlong handicap against a lower-class of handicap runners at Port Macquarie on Jan. 7 to end an 11-race losing streak.