Australia: Gitan starts season as topweight in handicap sprint
Gitan has won both of his career starts at Hawkesbury Racecourse in Australia, success worth noting when the gelding starts in a competitive handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at the venue northwest of Sydney on Thursday.
Trained by Jean Dubois, Gitan, 6, won a seven-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury last December, but is winless in three subsequent starts this year. This will be Gitan’s first start since a fifth in a seven-furlong handicap at Wagga Wagga Racecourse in February.
Gitan finished first in a half-mile training race on May 13 at Kembla Grange in preparation for his comeback. A winner of 6 of 38 starts, Gitan is the 136.6-pound topweight in a field of 12 and a threat from a stalking position.
Several other runners, some with much lower weight assignments, also have formidable chances.
Cool World won consecutive starts in handicaps at 5 1/2 furlongs in April before finishing seventh at 15-1 in a handicap on May 2 at Newcastle. He will carry 134.4 pounds.
Brazen Gem, a 3-year-old filly, has won her last two starts – a maiden race at five furlongs last November as an odds-on favorite and a handicap at five furlongs on May 8 in her 2020 debut at Goulborn Racecourse.
Brazen Gem, who will carry 129 pounds, may set the pace. Thursday’s race does not have a confirmed front-runner, which could leave the role to Brazen Gem or Kosciusko.
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A winner at Hawkesbury in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs in April 2019, Kosciusko led throughout a six-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse in November.
Missile Magic, who will carry 129 pounds, will face winners for the first time Thursday in his sixth start. A 3-year-old, he won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on May 15 at Hawkesbury in an 18-1 upset, closing from the back of an eight-horse field.
Thursday’s handicap is part of an eight-race program that begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.