Australia: Father's Day seeking fourth straight win

Father’s Day has largely run the same race three times since late August while compiling a winning streak in Australia.

The wins have been at narrow distances of a head, a half-length, and a head, with Father’s Day closing from off the pace to reach the front just in time. Each race has been slightly longer, including a win at 1 5/16 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse on Sept. 14.

To extend the streak to four races, Father’s Day must win his debut at 1 1/2 miles against a higher class of handicap runners at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday. First post for the Rosehill Gardens program is midnight Eastern on Wednesday or 9 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Trained by Bjorn Baker, Father’s Day has had three different riders in his recent wins, but will have a familiar jockey at Rosehill Gardens. The apprentice rider Dylan Gibbons won aboard Father’s Day at Warwick Farm and retains the mount at Rosehill Gardens.

The booking of Gibbons reduces Father’s Day’s weight assignment from 132 pounds to 127.8 pounds, moving him from the second-highest assignment in the field of 14 to one of four horses in seventh on the list.

Father’s Day was 5-1 in early betting Monday, the second choice behind distance specialist Boyszee at 4-1. Boyszee has won 2 of 6 starts at 1 1/2 miles, including a handicap against a slightly lower level of runners than this field on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Aug. 12.

Boyszee was second by about 2 3/4 lengths in a handicap at this level at 1 1/2 miles at Warwick Farm on Aug. 31. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Boyszee often races near the front.

This is a new distance for Just A Jedi, who was a fast-closing second to Father’s Day on Sept. 14. Just A Jedi, who was 6-1 on Monday, has won 3 of 21 starts, but is winless in his last eight races.