Australia: Great Again dangerous off layoff in Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool
Successful comebacks have been a frequent occurrence in the career of Great Again, an 8-year-old Australian-bred gelding who starts in Wednesday’s $116,445 Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne.
Great Again has won 10 of 26 starts and has won three times in his five-year career after a layoff. Wednesday, Great Again will start for the first time since a second in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne last August.
Great Again’s return in the Wangoom Handicap at six furlongs is similar to his schedule last year when he won the Straight Six Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington in May in his first start since the previous November.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
Trained at Warrnambool by Lindsey Smith, Great Again is a three-time stakes winner, all at distances ranging from six to 6 1/2 furlongs. Earlier in his career, Great Again raced primarily at tracks around Perth in Western Australia, but has raced in higher-class races around Melbourne in the last year.
Great Again is a stalker who will be ridden by Declan Bates, who was aboard in the Straight Six and Aurie’s Star.
The Wangoom Handicap drew a full field of 16 and is an open betting race, lacking a heavy favorite. Ancestry is expected to lead, a style that led to a win in the Abell Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley in March. Ancestry has subsequently finished fourth and ninth in sprint stakes.
Riding the Wave, also trained by Smith, was 16th of 18 in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in February, the 5-year-old gelding’s latest appearance. Riding the Wave drew the outside post and will have a forward position early to save some ground.
The Wangoom Handicap is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 9:20 p.m., Eastern, or 6:20 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The Wangoom Handicap is the richest race on the second of the three-day May festival at Warrnambool, which concludes Thursday. Earlier on the Wangoom Handicap program, Saunter Boy will be a solid favorite, at around even-money, to win the $77,630 Galleywood Hurdle at two miles. Saunter Boy has won 2 of 3 starts over hurdles, all since August, and 7 of 39 starts in his career.