Australia: Extra Smart to try six furlongs at Newcastle on Monday

Extra Smart was quick enough to win at five furlongs against maidens last December, and may be better suited to a slightly longer race when she has her debut at six furlongs in a handicap on the Beaumont course at Newcastle on Monday evening.

The maiden race victory is Extra Smart’s only win in seven starts. A 4-year-old filly, Extra Smart finished fourth by four lengths in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Scone Racecourse on Sept. 5 in her first start in nearly three months.

Extra Smart is winless in four starts since the win against maidens, a span that includes a head loss in a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook on June 4 in which she closed from seventh in a field of nine to just miss.

Extra Smart’s closing style may work at Newcastle, with the well-regarded fillies Arrabbiata and Hellcibell expected to race near the front.

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Arrabbiata has not raced since she won a maiden race at 7 3/4 furlongs at Quirindi Racecourse on May 8 in her fifth career start, leading throughout. In February, Arrabbiata was a game second in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Armidale, racing from slightly off the pace.

Arrabbiata was the 3-4 favorite at Quirindi on the strength of a second by about a neck in a seven-furlong handicap at Tamworth in April.

Hellcibell, who is likely to go favored at Newcastle, is the most lightly raced runner in the field.

Hellcibell led throughout her second start in a maiden race at six furlongs at Scone Racecourse on Sept. 5, as the 1-4 favorite. She set the pace and won by slightly more than a length under jockey Mitchell Bell, who has the mount at Newcastle.

Newcastle has a seven-race program beginning at 11:40 p.m. Eastern or 8:40 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Giga Kick out of Everest

Giga Kick, Australia’s top sprinter, will miss an expected start in the $12.8 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 14 because of injury and will be rested for the rest of the year.

Trainer Clayton Douglas recently informed racing officials in the state of New South Wales of Giga Kick’s status.

The Everest is the world and Australia's richest sprint.

Giga Kick won the 2022 Everest Stakes and has since won two Group 1 sprints. The Everest Stakes has a format in which owners purchase starting berths, and is not a group-level race.

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