Australia: Fine Weather's versatility may aid him in Geelong handicap
Among his last four starts, the Australian gelding Fine Weather returned from a layoff of more than six months to win a six-furlong handicap from off the pace at Swan Hill Racecourse in February and led throughout a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Mornington Racecourse on April 4.
Fine Weather can seemingly adapt to different race tactics and distances, which leaves him in contention for a third win this year in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong Racecourse outside of Melbourne on Tuesday.
Fine Weather, trained by Mitchell Freedman, is part of a field of 11 in the fifth of eight races at Geelong. The program begins at 11:30 p.m. Eastern, or 8:30 p.m. Pacific on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Fine Weather, who will be ridden by Jordan Childs, typically races as a stalker. He was outrun in the initial furlongs of his comeback at Swan Hill, the only time he has won a sprint in his career, which includes three wins in 11 starts. Fine Weather was desperate to win at Mornington, holding on by a nose.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
At Geelong, Fine Weather’s leading rivals are Boyszee, Fighting Arrow and Irish Butterfly.
Boyszee was third behind Fine Weather at Mornington on April 4 in his first start at 1 1/2 miles.
Fighting Arrow, a winner of 2 of 9 starts, was third by three-quarters of a length in the St. Leger Trial Handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Bendigo Racecourse on April 2, closing well in the final furlong in the longest start of his career.
Fighting Arrow won a maiden race at Geelong at 1 1/16 miles last November.
Irish Butterfly will start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time at Geelong. A winner of 4 of 23 starts, Irish Butterfly was fourth by 2 1/4 lengths in the Mt. Gambier Gold Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Mt. Gambier Racecourse on April 1.
Earlier this year, Irish Butterfly was third and second in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, closing well in both races.