Australia: Free Rider will attempt 7 furlongs for first time

Two of the three wins by Free Rider in Australia this year have been at about 6 1/2 furlongs, the longest races of his brief career. In those victories at that distance, Free Rider closed from off the pace to take the lead in the final sixteenth.

Free Rider, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, will start at seven furlongs for the first time in a handicap at Newcastle on Tuesday. The conditions suit Free Rider, who has had eight starts.

Free Rider won consecutive races in January and February and did not start again until mid-September. He finished sixth and 10th in handicaps at 5 1/2 furlongs before winning a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook on Oct. 5.

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Jockey Aaron Bullock was aboard for the win last week and has the mount on Tuesday. Free Rider will carry 126.7 pounds, 10 pounds less than topweight Zell, who may go favored.

Zell, a 4-year-old gelding, has won two of his last three starts for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. Zell won a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Newcastle on Aug. 22, finished fifth against a tougher field in a handicap at Canterbury Park on Sept. 9, and won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on Sept. 24. Similar to Free Rider, Zell tends to run from off the pace.

Free Rider breaks from post 3 in a field of 11, while Zell has a tougher draw on the rail. Jockey Christian Reith will need Zell to relax early to be effective. Zell did win from post 2 at Hawkesbury.

Tuesday’s race is a class drop for Absolute Trust, who won a six-furlong handicap at Royal Randwick on Sept. 5 as the 4-1 favorite against a tougher field, but was last of 10 at 25-1 in a handicap at Canterbury Park on Sept. 23, racing near the front before fading from contention.

Absolute Trust will carry 127.8 pounds, and will be ridden by apprentice jockey Mikayla Weir, which reduces the assignment. Weir had two winners at Port Macquarie on Saturday.

The Newcastle program begins at 11:45 p.m. Eastern, or 8:45 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.