Australia: Felix Bay faces tougher foes as co-highweight in handicap chase

Felix Bay, who won 7 of 80 starts, began his career in December 2012 in Australia.

The 10-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding was useful on the flat, winning four times from 2013-15, but has developed a greater stature in jump races, particularly in the last year.

A two-time winner over hurdles, Felix Bay is unbeaten in two starts over the tougher fences in steeplechases, including a seven-length win in a chase at 2 3/16 miles on April 19 at Pakenham Racecourse.

With that record, Felix Bay is the joint 158.7-pound highweight in a handicap chase at about 2 1/8 miles on Tuesday at Warrnambool Racecourse. Felix Bay is part of a solid field of seven in the second race on a nine-race program. The first five races are over obstacles followed by four flat races.

First post time is 9:20 p.m. Eastern, or 6:20 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Felix Bay will be ridden by Lee Horner, who was aboard for the recent win. Felix Bay had finished fourth and fifth in two flat races at 1 1/2 miles and 1 1/16 miles in April.

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In Tuesday’s race, Felix Bay faces a tougher field than he did in recent starts. I’ll’ava’alf, who will also carry 158.7 pounds, was third in the Brierly Chase at this distance May 5 at Warrnambool during the track’s prestigious autumn festival on the Australian calendar. I’ll’ava’alf was beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Georgethefifth and Speedy Jax, the first two finishers of a handicap chase at 2 3/16 miles on May 5 at Warrnambool, are part of Tuesday’s field.

Georgethefifth did not finish the Australian Steeplechase as the 2-1 favorite on May 24 at Sandown Park Lakeside. Speedy Jax was 10th as a 30-1 outsider in a flat race May 26 at Hamilton Racecourse.

Undergroundfighter and Tremec, third and fourth in the Australian Steeplechase, are part of Tuesday’s field, but are left with something to prove Tuesday.

Undergroundfighter, 11, has won 3 of 79 starts, while the 9-year-old Tremec has won 9 of 77 starts, including a maiden steeplechase May 12 at Sale.

Tremec was fourth behind Georgethefifth on May 5 at Warrnambool.