Australia: Freedom Square tries to put together back-to-back wins

Freedom Square has won races in sprints, at a mile and at 1 3/16 miles in the last year in Australia.

What Freedom Square has yet to do is win consecutive races in his nine-race career, which includes four victories. Wednesday at Canterbury Racecourse, Freedom Square rates an excellent chance to accomplish that feat in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs.

Trained by Paul Messara, Freedom Square returned from a layoff of more than five months to win a six-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse on May 7. Freedom Square closed from sixth to win by a little more than three-quarters of a length.

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The slightly longer race at Canterbury should work for the 4-year-old Freedom Square, who will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla. Freedom Square is part of a field of nine that includes course specialist Wild Chap and Kirkeby, who has not raced since January.

Wild Chap is unbeaten in two starts at Canterbury, a strong record considering the 5-year-old gelding has won 3 of 26 starts in his career. Wild Chap won a handicap against a slightly easier field at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury on May 5.

The win ended an 11-race losing streak, since Wild Chap’s win in last appearance at Canterbury in June 2021 in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs.

Wild Chap, trained by Brett Lazzarini, tends to run closer to the front than Freedom Square.

Kirkeby, from the stable of Australian leading trainer Chris Waller, was not helped by an inside draw. Kirkeby, who tends to run from a tracking position, won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse last December, and has not raced since a third in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm on Jan. 5.

Earlier in his career, Kirkeby won a maiden race at slightly more than a mile at Doomben, suggesting he can be a factor in this race even though he has excelled at longer distances.

Jockey James McDonald will be entrusted in finding a way through the field for Kirkeby, a 4-year-old gelding.

Canterbury has a seven-race program beginning at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.