Australia: Frilled heavy favorite despite four-month layoff

There is no doubt that Frilled is a fast filly in Australia. Two wins in as many starts in April and May showed that.

How she will fare after a four-month layoff is one of the few unknown factors in Frilled’s appearance in a five-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Wednesday evening.

Frilled is expected to win, judging from early betting. She was even money on Tuesday to extend her success against seven rivals.

The only concern, however slight, is how she will handle an inside draw. Five-furlong races at Kembla Grange begin in a chute on the turn. Fields join the main track well before the stretch, which is slightly more than two furlongs in length.

Considering Frillled’s speed, she should be able to secure a good early position under jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Trained by Matthew Smith, Frilled led throughout her wins at Nowra on April 9 and at Kembla Grange on May 6 when she broke from post 2.

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Frilled starts in the first race of a seven-race program at Kembla Grange that begins at 11:35 p.m. Eastern or 8:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Race conditions will suit Another Cognac, a handicap winner at five furlongs at Warwick Farm in January. This will be the first start for Another Cognac since the 4-year-old colt finished sixth of nine by 2 1/2 lengths in the Fireball Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on March 4.

Another Cognac, who runs from off the pace, has won 2 of 9 starts.

The 4-year-old filly Gilmore may offer Frilled an early challenge. She led throughout a five-furlong maiden race at Wyong Racecourse in April and later finished fourth and third in races against winners later in April and in May, her most recent start.

Gilmore is capable of setting the pace, or racing behind the leaders. Her best chance in this field may be to track Frilled.

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