Australia: Forgotten Jewel meets tougher in handicap at Bendigo

Forgotten Jewel was undefeated in three starts from February to July, racing at tracks in Western Australia.

How that form translates to tougher races in tracks around Melbourne in the state of Victoria will be better known on Sunday when Forgotten Jewel starts in a seven-furlong handicap at Bendigo Racecourse.

A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Forgotten Jewel has won at distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile, always racing on or near the lead. He has never won by more than a length and won by a neck in his most recent start, a one-mile handicap at Northam Racecourse on July 16.

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The handicap at Bendigo drew a field of 16, but will have a safety limit of 12 starters. Forgotten Jewel, Open Minded and Regardsmaree figure to dominate the betting.

Open Minded, a winner of 3 of 7 starts, was fifth in a six-furlong handicap at Kilmore Racecourse on Nov. 22 in his first start since June. Open Minded is winless in four starts since winning a six-furlong handicap at Sandown Park in Melbourne in April.

Open Minded has set the pace, but seems to be more effective as a stalker.

Regardsmaree ran in tougher handicaps at Melbourne-area tracks earlier this year without success. A winner of 2 of 10 starts, Regardsmaree was winless in seven starts from March to July when trained by Henry Dwyer.

Sunday’s race will be Regardsmaree’s first start for trainer Nick Ryan, who won with 8 of 50 starters from June 27 to Dec. 5.

The nine-race card at Bendigo begins at 8:55 p.m., Eastern, or 5:55 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

There should be a little bit of a convivial atmosphere at Bendigo. Racing Victoria, the regulatory agency for racing in that state, is allowing up to 1,000 spectators ontrack starting Friday. Previously, attendance was limited to 500.