Australia: Grey Whisper takes on winners for first time at Wangaratta
Grey Whisper nearly pulled an upset at 150-1 when she finished fifth in her debut at Wangaratta Racecourse in Australia in June. Showing inexperience, Grey Whisper raced erratically early in the race at 6 1/2 furlongs and was checked in the stretch. She was beaten slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths.
Grey Whisper won her second start at Wangaratta in a maiden race at about six furlongs on Nov. 16, but this time was the 5-2 favorite. She will be a slightly higher price in her debut against winners in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Wangaratta on Thursday.
Wangaratta has a nine-race program beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern or 6 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Grey Whisper, trained by Wangarrata-based Ben Brisbourne, is part of a full field of 14 and is likely to be the second choice in the betting behind Bomber’s Kiss. Grey Whisper won from off the pace on Nov. 16 when ridden by Dean Holland, who has the mount in this race.
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Bomber’s Kiss, a 4-year-old gelding, has won once in 11 starts and is winless in his last seven races. Bomber’s Kiss was an encouraging second in a handicap at about 7 1/2 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on May 21 and has not raced since a sixth-place finish in a handicap at a mile at Swan Hill on June 12.
The Swan Hill race was against slightly tougher horses than Bomber’s Kiss will face at Wangaratta.
The race drew six fillies and mares, including the 3-year-old Fabrikka who won her fifth start in a maiden race at Swan Hill on Oct. 26. Fabrikka has had one subsequent start against winners, finishing eighth of nine in a handicap at seven furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 17. Fabrikka was beaten only 3 3/4 lengths.
The race has been somewhat productive. Blazerro, who finished third, returned to finish second in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday.