Australia: Fine Weather goes a little longer in Geelong handicap
Fine Weather appeared in a route race for the first time when he beat maidens at about 1 1/4 miles at Cranbourne Racecourse on July 22 in Australia.
Making his fifth start, Fine Weather closed from eighth in a field of 14 to win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 7-5 favorite. The win has led to an entry in a handicap at an even longer 1 3/8 miles at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Friday.
Fine Weather is part of a field of 11 and is one of three runners in the field with last-race wins. Waizuzu won a two-mile maiden race for hurdlers at Warrnambool Racecourse on June 17, while Yulara won a lesser handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Donald Racecourse on Aug. 1. Those runners are not as highly rated as Fine Weather, a five-time runner trained by Mitchell Freedman.
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Aside from a ninth-place finish at 60-1 in a lucrative sires progeny stakes in April, Fine Weather ran well in his first four starts, which ranged in distances from six furlongs to a mile. Prior to the win on July 22, Fine Weather was second in a one-mile maiden race on July 8 at Cranbourne.
This field is led by Breeze ‘N’ Luna and Flossing, who are racing at the same class level as recent starts, but not in a race as lucrative as at higher-profile venues such as Caulfield, Moonee Valley, and Sandown Park in the Melbourne area.
Breeze ‘N’ Luna, a 4-year-old filly, was third in a one-mile handicap at Sandown on July 21. A winner of 2 of 9 starts, Breeze ‘N’ Luna will start at 1 3/8 miles for the first time at Geelong.
Flossing also is trying a new distance and was fourth in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley on July 31. Similar to Fine Weather, Flossing runs from off the pace.
Both Breeze ‘N’ Luna and Flossing are expected to be around 2-1 and merit respect, while Fine Weather was 5-1 in early betting with bookmakers as of Wednesday.
Fine Weather has a slight advantage in this race, carrying 127.8 pounds compared to 132 for Flossing. Breeze ‘N’ Luna will carry 129.
Geelong has a nine-race program that begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.