Australia: Fortune Seeker takes on winners at Goulburn

Fortune Seeker was well regarded in her debut in a maiden race at Australia's Canberra Racecourse on Sept. 4. Sent off favored, she was always near the front and won by nearly 1 3/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite.

Fortune Seeker, a 3-year-old Southern Hemisphere filly, beat older horses at Canberra and will have her debut against winners in a seven-furlong handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Tuesday. Trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, Fortune Seeker will carry 119 pounds, the lowest weight in a field of nine.

The light assignment will be a benefit, as is the presence of jockey Winona Costin, who was aboard for the win at Canberra.

Fortune Seeker raced near the front in her maiden-race win and could have a similar style at Goulburn, although O’Mudgee has shown speed in recent starts. O’Mudgee won a maiden race in his fifth start at Bathurst on Sept. 27, leading throughout.

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The lightly raced Sweet Reply, a 3-year-old filly, may go favored in a field of nine. Trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, Sweet Reply won her debut at Kembla Grange in a maiden race in May and has been second or third in three subsequent starts. Sweet Reply, who tends to race as a stalker, was second by 1 1/4 lengths in a handicap for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on Sept. 24.

Tuesday’s race at Goulburn is Sweet Reply’s first start at seven furlongs.

The distance will not be an issue for The Empire, a 3-year-old colt who won his second start in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Nowra Racecourse on Sept. 20, his first outing since February.

Goulburn has a six-race program beginning at 12:25 a.m. Eastern, on Tuesday, or 9:25 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.