Australia: Geegees Mistruth and Viola Vivice make stakes debuts

Geegees Mistruth and Viola Vivice are undefeated fillies, both race from off the pace, and they will have their first stakes start in the Elwick Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Hobart Racecourse in Australia on Saturday evening.

The similarities do not stop there. Geegees Mistruth and Viola Vivice were both 11-10 in early betting on Friday to win the Elwick Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Two differences are their levels of experience and stables of origin.

Geegees Mistruth has won twice at tracks on the island of Tasmania - a debut win in a five-furlong maiden race at Hobart on Nov. 26, and an allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs at Launceston on Dec. 13. She is trained by Stuart Gandy, who is based in Tasmania.

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Viola Vivice won her only start in a five-furlong maiden race at Mornington Racecourse near Melbourne on Dec. 28 for trainers Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes, who are based at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. The Elwick Stakes constitutes a road trip for Viola Vivice, across the Bass Strait that separates Flemington from the island of Tasmania.

Viola Vivice drew post 2 for the Elwick, which has a field of eight. Geegees Mistruth starts from post 6. The post positions should compliment the stalking running styles of both fillies.

Of the eight runners, only four have started. Three are winners.

Olive Girl, who was 5-1 in early betting on Friday, won her second start as the 1-2 favorite in an allowance race at five furlongs at Hobart on Jan. 5, racing near the front throughout in a four-horse field.

She may set the pace in the Elwick, depending on what the four first-time starters do. They were all longshots in early betting.

Hobart has a 10-race program beginning at 8:02 p.m. Eastern or 5:02 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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