Australia: Fantastic Baby well placed in one-mile handicap Tuesday

With the benefit of a recent start, Fantastic Baby appears well placed to win for the third time in his sixth appearance in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday.

Trained by Adam Duggan, who is based at Gosford, Fantastic Baby closed from seventh in a field of 14 to finish second by about a neck in a seven-furlong handicap at Newcastle on June 12. The narrow loss was Fantastic Baby’s first start since a win in a one-mile handicap at Taree last December as an odds-on favorite.

Fantastic Baby began his career with near misses in shorter races at Gosford last October and November, finishing second by three-quarters of a length in his debut and by a length in his second start.

Fantastic Baby, who tends to run as a stalker, is part of a field of 12 at Gosford, in the sixth race of a seven-race program that begins at 10:35 p.m. Eastern, or 7:35 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Fantastic Baby drew post 6, which should suit his forward running style.

The main competition is Jimmy’s Dream and Mon Amore.

Jimmy’s Dream won a maiden race at 7 1/2 furlongs on heavy turf at Kembla Grange in his seventh start on May 25. Jimmy’s Dream finished third in his first start against winners in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm on June 14, facing arguably a tougher field than he will meet at Gosford.

Jimmy’s Dream was beaten three-quarters of a length by Kibosh, an odds-on favorite who has won his last two starts.

Mon Amore, a 3-year-old filly, beat maidens in her 11th start at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie Racecourse on April 3 and has since finished fourth once and second twice in handicaps in May and June.

Mon Amore was second by 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Scone Racecourse on June 15, closing from slightly off the pace. This slightly shorter trip may work in her favor.