Australia: Hard-working Shiranda favored in Mackay Cup
Shiranda will complete a busy July when the gelding starts favored in Friday’s Mackay Cup at Mackay Racecourse in northeast Australia.
Shiranda, a winner of 8 of 41 starts, has already raced three times this month – finishing third in one-mile handicaps at Rockhampton on July 7 and July 17 and winning a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Mackay as the 6-5 favorite on July 21.
Such a schedule is common for Shiranda. Shiranda had three starts a month in April, May and June with one win in those nine races.
In the Mackay Cup at 1 1/4 miles, Shiranda is part of a full field of 14 and will be ridden by Elyce Smith for trainer John Manzelmann, who is based at Mackay. Smith has ridden Shiranda in three of his last four starts, including the win on July 21.
This is the first time Shiranda has raced at 1 1/4 miles, but he has won at a distance slightly shorter than 1 3/16 miles.
Best Hoffa and Magstock are in the midst of losing streaks, but do have recent performances that merit respect when they face Shiranda on Friday. Best Hoffa, a 7-year-old gelding, was second by a neck in a one-mile handicap at Townsville on July 4 and second by a neck at the same venue in a race at 1 1/4 miles on July 14. Best Hoffa is winless in his last four starts.
Magstock has been sixth in three of his last four starts, but did not lose those races by much.
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On July 17 at Rockhampton Racecourse in Australia, Magstock closed from 15th and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths when sixth of 16 in a one-mile handicap. A 7-year-old bred in New Zealand, Magstock is winless in 10 starts since November.
The Mackay Cup is the most prestigious race at the track, located in the state of Queensland. The track is allowing a small number of spectators despite the coronavirus pandemic.
First post time for the nine-race program is 9:52 p.m., Eastern, or 6:52 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.