Australia: Gunaluva early favorite for Gosford handicap
Gunaluva did not have a pleasant journey around Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Jan. 16. In a handicap at 1 1/2 miles, Gunaluva raced three wide for most of the race without cover and finished sixth, beaten about 2 1/2 lengths.
With any luck, Gunaluva could have finished in the first three.
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Australian bettors seemed to have kept faith in the 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding. Gunaluva was the 5-2 favorite in early betting on Monday for a handicap at 1 5/8 miles at Gosford Racecourse on Wednesday.
Trained by John Sargent, Gunaluva has shown a liking for Gosford, having won a lower-level handicap at 1 5/8 miles at Gosford in November. More recently, Gunaluva won a handicap at 1 7/16 miles at Newcastle on Dec. 26.
Jockey Keagan Latham was aboard for those wins and has the mount on Wednesday, replacing apprentice Tyler Schiller, who was aboard for the Jan. 16 race.
Schiller is not booked to ride on Wednesday.
Gunaluva is part of a field of nine and has familiar rivals in Shadow Flight and Yuralla Boy.
Shadow Flight was second in the Kembla Grange race on Jan. 16, finishing a neck behind Explosive Jack. Shadow Flight has won 6 of 47 starts, and is in the midst of a 23-race losing streak which includes four second-place finishes.
Yuralla Boy was second to Gunaluva on Dec. 26, and eighth of 10 after setting the pace in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm on Jan. 6. Yuralla Bay may inherit the same role at Gosford in a race that lacks a consistent pacesetter.
Urbino, a 6-year-old gelding who began his career in England with Michael Stoute, will start in his longest race in Australia at Gosford. Urbino has been third in his last two starts, in handicaps at 1 3/8 miles at Ipswich on Dec. 24 and Doomben on Jan. 7. He closed from off the pace to finish with interest in both starts. Urbino could be suited to this longer trip.
Gosford has a seven-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m., Eastern, or 7:20 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.