Australia: Head Spins has targets in sprint handicap

Head Spins was a fast-closing second in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on April 25 at Gosford Racecourse in Australia, missing by a nose to an 18-1 rival.

The narrow loss was the second start of 2020 for Head Spins and may have been an ideal prep for a six-furlong handicap Thursday at Wyong Racecourse.

A 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, Head Spins is part of a field of 12 and should have conditions in his favor. The race has several runners capable of setting the pace – Destiny’s Son, Fiery Road, and Shepherd of Fire – which should give jockey Ashley Morgan plenty of targets on Head Spins.

Trained by Adam Duggan, Head Spins will carry 126.7 pounds, considerably less than topweight Fiery Red at 134.4, or Shepherd of Fire, who has been assigned 130 pounds.

The seven-race Wyong program begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Fiery Red, 3, may go favored in what will be his first start of 2020. Unplaced in two group stakes last year, Fiery Red has not raced since September. He has won following a layoff in the past. Last August, Fiery Red won a maiden race in his first start in nearly six months.

Shepherd of Fire, another 3-year-old, was last of seven in his career debut in a maiden race March 21 at Kembla Grange. He had much brighter form in April, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths in a five-furlong maiden race April 9 before winning a six-furlong maiden race April 23 at Newcastle Racecourse. Thursday’s race is his fourth start.

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A projected fast pace would be a benefit for Ranges and Diva Bella. Ranges was third against a similar field April 28 at Kembla Grange. Diva Bella, one of five fillies and mares in Thursday’s race, won a maiden race in her sixth start at 17-1.

Diva Bella was ridden by apprentice jockey Cejay Graham, who retains the mount. Because of Graham’s apprentice claim, Diva Bella will carry 120 pounds in Thursday’s race.