Australia: Front-running Diatonic has weight edge in Monday handicap
Diatonic, who has started only three times in Australia since late May, may have a weight advantage against a few key rivals in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Monday evening across American time zones.
Diatonic will carry 123 pounds, less than other contenders such as Taraashoq (132), Gigantic (125.6) or Midori Fuji (124.5).
Trained by John Sargent, Diatonic has finished third, first and second in his three appearances. He won a one-mile maiden race at Scone Racecourse on June 27 and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in his debut against winners in a one-mile handicap at Scone on July 15, his most recent race.
For his return, Diatonic has had two barrier trials, or schooling races for the gate, at a half-mile and six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney since Oct. 10.
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Diatonic tends to run near the front and could be joined in that capacity by Taraashoq, a winner at Nottingham, England, in 2021, who was fourth and third in his first two starts in Australia in May.
Taraashoq ran in two schooling races in October, including a trial at five furlongs in which he finished first of 10.
Gigantic, likely to be favored, will race at a mile for the first time since a fifth-place finish in a maiden race at Newcastle in March. Gigantic won his seventh start in a maiden race at 7 1/2 furlongs at Kembla Grange on Oct. 10, and was second by a neck in a four-runner handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on Oct. 24.
Midori Fuji is another runner with a low weight who is capable of a win. A gelding, Midori Fuji won his third start in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Nowra Racecourse on Oct. 16, and was fifth of eight by 4 1/4 lengths in a tougher handicap at a mile at Gosford on Oct. 27 after leading briefly in the stretch.
Gosford has an eight-race program beginning at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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