Australia: Eugenio's marathon success gives him slight edge at Newcastle

His success in distance races, even if it was in 2019 and 2020, may be what the gelding Eugenio needs to end an eight-race losing streak at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Thursday.

A 5-year-old New Zealand bred, Eugenio won races at 1 1/2 miles in 2019 and 1 7/16 miles last June, and will be starting at about 1 1/2 miles at Newcastle. This year, Eugenio is winless in six starts at distances ranging from 6 3/4 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles.

At Kembla Grange on March 12, Eugenio finished fifth by 1 3/4 lengths behind Savvy Valentino in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles. The race has been productive. Savvy Valentine returned to win a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick on March 25, while third-place finisher Alakahan was second in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm on March 31.

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Eugenio, trained by John Thompson, has won 4 of 31 starts and is part of a highly competitive field of 12 at Newcastle. As of Tuesday, Eugenio was 5-1 along with Arabolini, Cliffs of Moher, and Prince Camelot. The race lacks a clear favorite.

The seven-race Newcastle program begins at 11:20 p.m. Eastern, or 8:20 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Arabolini closed from a stalking position to finished second by less than a half-length in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Gosford Park on April 1.

Cliffs of Moher was last of nine in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 27 when he was overmatched. This is Cliffs of Moher’s first start at 1 1/2 miles. He won a handicap at about 1 3/16 miles at Newcastle on Feb. 20.

Prince Camelot was second in the same race as Arabolini on April 1 and was second over this distance at Newcastle in 2019. Of the four principal runners, Prince Camelot may be closer to the front through the first half of the race.